Helltown

The beginning

"I remember that day as if it was yesterday," Tiff narrated over the picturesque ceiling and arches of a famous European city. There a group of American students were visiting for their first school trip abroad. It was the 60s and the world was a much different place.

"As you can see, this basilica is an architecture of the Renaissance era. Just look at that dome…" an enthusiastic tour guide told a group of teens. Her face was covered with thick jar-like glasses as she waved her arms and pointed, talking about the history of the majestic place of worship. Her audience were senior students from a prestigious American high school. Four girls stood in the back looking around, disinterested. One was obnoxiously chewing a bubble gum. She had a heavy layer of mascara and bright eye shadow that made her look older.

"How long is this going to take?" the girl, called Regina, whispered to her friends.

"Why? Are you in a hurry?" another girl, Jenifer, with high-waist jeans and a colorful sweater asked. She had a grumpy air around her.

"Yes... I'm in a hurry. To get out of here," she replied annoyed.

"Yeah, you should be careful. All these crosses might cause you to burst into flames," a homely girl with thick glasses, called Tina, smirked.

Their friends giggled as Regina scoffed. "You should talk," she said playfully, with her nose high in the air.

Three girls laughed as the fourth rolled her eyes. She was of average height and looks, with a few highlights in her hair. However, her calm but tenacious demeanor and bold posturing made her something of the leader in the group.

"Excuse me, girls? Is there a problem?" the tour guide said, looking back at them.

"No, sister Maria," the girls mumbled in monotone voices.

"Good... Alright children, any questions?"

A nerdy looking boy with glasses raised his hand. "Yeah, why are there so many types of Christians in the world?"

"That is a very good question, Samuel."

"I prefer Sam, but okay," he said shy.

"Well, it all started a long time ago with the Great Schism when..." she spoke. Her arms moved excitedly through the air with every sentence she uttered, going into extraordinary detail of all the events that happened as a consequence. The students glared angrily at Samuel, who could only shrug into his shoulders and wish to disappear.

"Finally. I can take a chill pill and enjoy Italy the proper way," the girl with high-waist trouser said, placing her bottom on a thin chair of a street café. As the beloved nut ball of the group, she was known as Reggie to most.

"You can say that again. If I hear one more historical fact, I'm going to go bananas," Jenifer, the complainer of the group, said.

"History is the teacher of life, ancient Roman proverb," the girl with glasses, Tina, read out of a small booklet she bought at the museum gift shop. 

Jenifer stared at her profusely. "I hate you," Jenifer muttered, annoyed. "Anyway, I still can't believe we had to listen to all of that. I mean seriously, all your sources come from one book. How many interpretations of it can you have? Focus on what's important! Don't squabble like suburban moms during book club evening!" 

"Wow, aren't you touchy on the topic," Tina added.

"Sorry, I get that way when some grumpy farts from a thousand years ago, dictate what is and what isn't," she mumbled back.

Tina shrugged and looked at her booklet. "History is complicated like that. Still, be grateful for what you have. As the Romans would say, don't look a gift horse in the mouth."

Reggie puffed disinterested. "I agree with Jenny. I mean, why listen to some guys who didn't even have proper bathrooms. What could they know about our modern life?...My mom's new boyfriend, on the other hand. He knows what's what. Good vibes all around. I mean, he literary spent years studying under different mystic gurus and has shown me tons of amazing things," she said tacking something out of her jeans pockets. "Like these, for example."

The girls leaned in curious. Regina was holding a few ordinary looking pieces of paper that smelled really nice.

"Mmmm smells so relaxing," Jenny said, sniffing.

"These things are magical. You write a wish and put them away on a special place. It is 100% going to become true in the next 20 years."

"Really?" Tina and Jenny uttered amazed as Tiff discretely rolled her eyes.

"Yes, so I was thinking. There are all these historic churches around... Why don't I put one here and see what happens," Regina uttered with a giddy chuckle, as if coming up with the most brilliant idea in the world.

"Is that even legal?" Tina asked, intrigued but morally conflicted.

"Yeah, never heard someone doing that before," Jenny said with a slight frown.

"Why wouldn't it be? It's just paper. It's not like we are going to litter on the streets," Jenifer said, still uncertain but warming up to the idea.

The three girls looked at each other a little thrilled. Tapping the cards, Regina whispered, "So what do you say? Do you want to try it with me?"

The two nodded.

"Great, so this is a plan. We sneak out early tomorrow morning-"

"Sneak out?" Tina squeaked.

"Are you joking? What if we get lost? We don't know this place," Jenifer said.

"Yeah, you know I'm terrible with directions. How will we get back?" Tina added.

"Mellow out girls. Everything is going to be fine. I'll lead the way," Regina stated with confidence.

The two looked around, antsy. Regina glanced at her quiet best friend. "What do you think, Tiff?"

Tiff gave them all a cold stare. "I think you all need to check yourself into a mental asylum." 

"Oh come on, we're just considering. You know, like an experiment," Reggie said lightheartedly. The girls side glanced each other with a muffled giggle. They stayed quiet, deep in their own thoughts.

"You know what would be funny?" Jenifer spoke first. "If that really worked."

"If what really worked?" Tiff said calm and yet condescending tone.

Jenifer covered her mouth, as if talking about drugs or murder. "Writing something amazing, like asking for superpowers or something", she whispered. The girls listened to her quiet but curious. 

Tiffany stared at her blank. Leaning in slowly, she observed the expressions of the other girls before saying: "Alright, I'm going to give you a chance to explain yourself."

"I know," Regina said, fascinated. "This is going to be fun. Let's ask for super-sight or immortality."

Jenifer and Tina quickly nodded.

"Why?" Tiffany said. 

"Because, it may come true."

"Yeah, it could be the ultimate wish maker."

"Or you can just do something normal like throwing a coin into a fountain," Tiff said serious, making sure nobody is listening.

"We can do it tomorrow. Before we get in the bus," Tina whispered.

"Yeah, no one will ever know," Reggie grinned, excited.

"Acta, non verba! Actions, not words!" Tina cheered discretely.

Tiff was not pleased. She sighed and stood up. "And if you get caught? What then? Who knows what those things are!" Tiffany said annoyed.

"Oh come on. Who is gonna know? They look like regular pieces of paper," Regina was persistent.

Sighing, Tiff addressed her friend coldly. "If you want to get yourself in trouble in a foreign country, on our last school trip... Be my guest," she said and walked to sit at another table.

"Fine," Regina muttered. "Who needs you anyway?"

"Absens, carens. The one who is absent, earns nothing," Tina read.

Annoyed, Jenifer extended her hand. "Can I see that?"

Tina gave her the small book. Her friend took it and threw it on the street, frowning.

"I hate you," Tina mumbled, scowling at her.

That night, Tiffany and her roommate Regina were talking. Reggie kept rambling about her plan, as thrilled as a punk shaving his first Mohawk. The rational girl clenched her teeth, becoming more and more irritated.

"...And also!" Regina spoke.

"Will you stop it already! You've been like a windup doll the entire way to the hotel. If I hear another word on your stupid plan, I am going to scream," Tiff declared, shouting close to her face.Her longtime friend stared at her blankly. "Why are you like this?"

Tiffany inhaled and calmly continued, "Reggie, what you want to do can be considered witchcraft. Do you understand that?"

"Ha! When did you get religious all of a sudden? I don't remember ever seeing you in Sunday school?"

"I don't have to be religious to see that this is wrong. For Heaven's sake, let it go!" Tiffany explained slowly.

"You know what?" Reggie stated after a tense, silent moment.

"What!"

"I think you act this way because you didn't think of it first."

Her friend scoffed, turning her back and crossing her arms.

"It's true," Reggie said triumphant. "For the first time in years, our little friend group is doing something without your approval, and you are scared shitless."

"Oh, please. You three do stupid things all the time... And most of the time, I'm the one who has to rescue you later. Honestly, I sometimes feel more like your babysitter than a friend. Especially for you!"

"Well, thanks for the lowdown. I did not know we were so below your maturity standards!" Reggie yelled sarcastic. "And let me tell you something! If I wanted some prudish fart to manipulate every aspect of my life, I would have stayed with my grandmother!"

"Whatever," Tiff muttered. She raised her nose high as her friend grabbed the door handle. "I'm going to sleep at Jenny and Tina's room tonight. Don't tell the teachers."

Her pouty friend did not reply, staying completely still as the door slammed shut. Once alone, she lied in bed thinking about the conversation they had in the café. For some reason, she could not make it get out of her head.

Frowning, the teen girl looked up at the white ceiling. "It's completely ridiculous," she grunted, pulling the cover over her head.

A sudden tap startled her.

"Who is it?" she said, clenching fine linen.

No one replied.

Scared, the girl slowly approached and peeped through the key door. No one was there.

"It's probably those three, trying to scare me," she mumbled and placed her ear on the door.

Everything was completely quiet. Sighing, she was ready to go back to bed when another louder tap was heard. And another and another, muffled, as if coming from inside a large tank.