Paige had just finished a camping trip in New Hampshire when she saw the highway sign that would change her life forever. "Westbrook exit 2," she muttered in able to break the endless silence of the car ride home. It had gotten late and there was still plenty of driving left to do so Paige decided to call it a night. She veered onto exit 2. The lonely highway disappeared into the night. The exit ramp leads to a dirt road where large, dark trees lined both sides of the road.
She followed this path for ten minutes before stopping before a sign.
"Welcome to Westbrook, where wants become realities..." she read aloud. "That's a weird town slogan," she thought to herself. Paige continued onward. The dirt road transitioned into a normal street as she entered the town. She stopped at the very first place that looked open. It was a large wooden building with three floors. A sign out front read 'Westbrook Tavern. Rooms available.' Paige parked at the curb and entered the quaint tavern. It was completely empty save for the bartender. He was a tall, burly man with glasses.
"Hello, welcome to Westbrook Tavern," he said with a smile.
"Hello I'd like to rent a room."
"Not from around here, eh? The room will be $60. I should warn you, make sure you fall asleep before midnight."
"Why? What happens at midnight?"
"A terrible curse will be placed upon you."
Paige laughed. "Oh, I see this is one of those haunted hotel places, right? I am not afraid of any ghost so I think I'll be just fine."
Paige handed the man the money and he handed her the key. She found her room and immediately jumped into bed. The clock on her bedside table read 10:51 pm. Paige whipped out her phone and began to browsing websites. She lost track of time. When she looked at the clock again it now was now thirty minutes after midnight. Paige picked up the rooms' phone and called the tavern's number. The bartender picked up.
"You know the room is fine enough where you don't have to make up the story of a curse. It's been half an hour and I feel perfectly fine," she teased.
"Oh dear, you have made a grave mistake. Come downstairs and you will see what I meant when I said there is a curse."
The bartender hung up the phone. A burning sensation began on the back of Paige's neck. She felt compelled to go downstairs. Her body began moving on its own, as if she were not controlling it. The bartender was waiting for her.
