Tale 1: Cursed

**Tale #1: CURSED**

Everyone who knows - I mean *really* knows - about the town of Augury, will tell you it’s cursed. The more questions you ask, the more people will be inclined to tell you stories of urban legends and horrifying rumors. They’ll have no problem pointing out that the supernatural runs rampant throughout our streets, and somehow the average person won’t even bat an eye. That’s because they don’t know Augury like we do.

~~The lucky bastards~~

Five years ago, a man vanished. I say “a man” because this town has done everything it possibly could to make sure his very memory evaporated with him. He was one of Augury’s best detectives and, at the time, was assigned a case involving a string of mysterious disappearances. If you asked anyone about the case, nine times out of ten they wouldn’t know anything. If you were lucky, you’d run into someone who clearly knew something but didn’t feel like sharing. So. How do I know any of this? Why should anyone believe me? Well, first of all, that detective was my dad.

Before my dad went missing, he had discovered what he believed was a link between the disappearances and **R3VIVE,** an energy supplement meant for those who have a thirst for adventure. Or, that’s how it’s advertised anyways. Augury has always been a place for “outdoorsy” types. A lot of tourists come to take on the forest or mountains. Our ski trails are known to be some of the best in the US.

The **R3VIVE** factory sits a little bit outside of the town limits next to the Lake. People have commended its tasteful architecture and placement, saying it doesn’t take away from the natural allure of the area.

~~What a bunch of bullshit~~

The fact that the police kept my dad’s findings regarding **R3VIVE** out of the official report said everything to me. Of course, when I brought it up after he disappeared, I was dismissed and told that I was still in shock. It took some time, but I eventually accepted that nobody would take my concerns seriously. I knew nobody was looking for him despite what they said, and I knew every move that was made to make me feel like I was crazy was intentional. If I was going to get the answers I needed, the only person I could rely on was myself.

I had help from a few individuals I met through my own investigation. When I found out more about them, they revealed that they had connections to the people that vanished and were not happy with the official reports either.

~~They were good people. They didn’t deserve what happened~~

We investigated every rumor and story, no matter how far fetched it sounded. Any claim that supported something that couldn’t be explained wasn’t dismissed but documented. Eventually, we not only confirmed some of my dad’s suspicions, but were growing closer to an answer none of us wanted. Murder.

Looking back through the history of our town, we came upon a lot of stories about strange deaths and suspicious disappearances. Strange claims of literal monsters living among us, were turning out to seem more and more real.

The day that followed our discovery feels like it never happened. But, unfortunately, I have the scars to prove that it did. Maybe if we started our search somewhere other than the woods, they might still be alive.

~~I doubt it.~~

Once we found the barrels, that pretty much sealed their fate. As for me, I have no idea why I survived. I can only imagine it was because they knew nobody would believe me.

My injuries?

~~Animal attack.~~

My story?

~~Nobody was left that could vouch for me.~~

Nobody would believe me if I told them **R3VIVE** was hiding something.

That they were somehow covering up the disposal of toxic waste with a killer.

~~And that’s just the tip of the iceberg~~

I do, however, have these tales. The tales from the people of Augury that are continuously dismissed and seen as nothing but myth and legend. Tales that I now know, are not works of fiction, but reality.

I should have never come back. I should have stayed away after everything that happened. I had the chance. This town is cursed.

~~And so am I.~~