The Limits To Curiosity (image 3)
It all began in a car. Rather, a black vintage Aston Martin, to be specific. Our luggage stacked
up in the trunk, moving and crashing into the surface of the car every two minutes. We finally
moved into our new home in Pittsburgh. Oh what a pleasure it would’ve been to move into a
beach house, with the warm rays of the sun painting my face gold, and staying up till three in
the morning eating ice cream sundaes with neighborhood friends. It wasn’t what I imagined it to
be at all. The sun rises at eight thirty in the morning and sets at five, all restaurants and
entertainment venues close down at nine pm, and it rains ninety percent of the time. I already
had that gut feeling that this was going to be unexplainably tough for me but oh well, here’s to
new beginnings, I guess?
3 months later. I’m still in the exact same situation I was in months ago. Except I made one
friend, who by the way is some kind of relative to my very old ancestor. Something like that.
Marcus helped us a lot with our luggage’s when we were moving, so the least I could do was
give him some company. Unfortunately, he was an orphan, but he lives with his grandmother,
who’s very elderly. Her hair is so long, silky and straight, her posture is as normal as ever and
let me tell you this, she is probably one of the wisest people I have ever met. She has a way
with words and acts.
One thing that has always left me in curiosity ever since I moved here in Pittsburgh, was this
rusty, unearthly looking well. It was about the size of a Jacuzzi. A strong metal lid was always
placed on top of it and it was strictly ordered for us to never open it. And the most unbelievable
and questionable thing was that nobody who stepped a foot onto this dying earth knew about
what is inside this well. I mean it not like there’s a phantom or some possessed creature living
inside who eats our souls up. They don’t even exist so what is there to be scared about?
It was a tranquil Friday afternoon, Marcus and his grandmother had invited me over for lunch. I
sat on one of her so-called ancient hazel chesterfield couch from the 80’s. I’m surprised she’s
kept it looking perfectly brand new after having it for almost 40 years. She served us great
English tea along with my favorite Milano Cookies! We three had some general discussions and
she questioned how I liked it here in Pittsburgh. Of course I had to sugarcoat my opinion,
because if I could, I’d book a flight and get myself out of here in the blink of an eye. It was four
o’clock, so I decided it’s time for me to go home.
Before I left, I had to get this doubt out of my mind and at least ask someone about the well, so I
asked Marcus’ grandmother. Suddenly, she had a pale, frightened and startled look on her face.
It was as if she had started shivering and got goosebumps. I was in a state of shock and
confusion. She put down the tray of tea and biscuits, grabbed my arm and strictly told me that
no matter if the world was crushing into pieces, a huge tsunami was coming towards us, we are
never to look inside of the Banshee well. I didn’t speak for a minute straight. She stated that
there was a paranormal spiritual creature that remains inside the well, and anyone who even
dares to take a peek inside, that creature doesn’t hesitate to steal the soul of that individual. She
had a sister who was playing innocently in the streets, suddenly she had that burning urge to
discover what inside that petrifying Banshee well, and unfortunately, she never came back
home. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. This is all complete nonsense. These kinds of
creatures… don’t exist? I was in a complete state of confusion so I left and ran back home.
Around nine thirty, I started getting ready for bed. Those exact words that Marcus’ grandmother
had said kept replaying in my mind repeatedly. Phantoms… spiritual creatures… ghosts? That
cannot be real. No one in their right mind would ever say that to someone, it only happens in the
movies. Unless, I go out tomorrow and look inside the well myself. I need answers, and if no
one is willing to tell me, then I’m going to have to hit the road myself. I need to know what’s in
that well that is frightening everyone. After minutes of planning my mission, I finally decided that
I will go to the Banshee Well at one in the morning and take the risk. I’m going to prove to the
entire town that there is nothing to be hallowed about, and that all this is just an old historical
myth made by make-believers. I then got my outfit prepared, switched off my bedside lamp, and
slept eventually.
Its currently one-fifty, and I’m all set for the plan. I made sure my parents were dead sleeping so
they wouldn’t prevent me from completing my mission. I then headed out the door and to the
Banshee Well. It was four degrees outside and I only had a burgundy cotton scarf and Tuscany
mittens I found lying on my table to keep me warm. I had finally arrived, and I started regretting
my decision, but there’s no backing out now. This is the moment of truth. I started rubbing my
hands together, and I walked steadily towards the Banshee Well, to remove the aged rusted
metal lid from the top. This is it, this is the moment of truth. My hand touched the lid and
suddenly, I felt an icy shiver scorch my entire body. It felt like a million electrical wires buzzing
and bursting inside of me. I was stuck, and I couldn’t do anything about it, nor could anyone
help me. This was the moment I realized it was the end.
Out of the blue, the shiver broke off. All I could hear was the sound of Marcus yelling my name
continuously. My eyes opened. What was Marcus doing here at two in the morning? Instantly,
he started telling me off about how insanely mad I am and how dangerous and menacing it was
what I was doing. From the bottom of my heart, I could really care less about what he was
thinking. I need answers and the only way I could get them is to find it out by myself. He told me
to go back home and sleep or else he would tell his grandmother and my parents. Jerk much? I
then went home because no one, and I mean it no one should know about what happened this
night, and I’m counting on Marcus to keep his mouth zipped.
I sneaked back upstairs to my room, unconditionally disappointed in myself. I took out my
IPhone that my parents gifted me for my fifteenth birthday. I unhesitatingly messaged Marcus
and scrupulously told him to quit following me and spying on what I do. Of course, he replied
back saying he can see the Banshee Well from his window, and he knows exactly who goes
there and what we do there. I’ve never met anyone more infuriating in my entire life.
Nonetheless, I decided to have some sleep before I try yet, once again to have a look at what’s
inside the well.
*Narrator speaking*
Unexpectedly at five in the morning, with all the confusion and curiosity going on in Diana’s
mind, got up steadily and started sauntering outside her home, still asleep. She walked and
walked until she reached the Banshee Well. Creepily, she stood there for five minutes straight in
the chilly weather. Marcus coincidentally woke up and saw Diana just standing there. He
immediately put on his shoes and ran towards the Banshee Well, until suddenly, the metal lid on
top of the well flew off, crashing and crushing into pieces, and a spine-chilling woman like
creature pulled Diana into the well and slammed the Banshee Well shut. Leaves and trees
started gushing around her. Marcus was insanely deranged, and went to fetch his grandma but
couldn’t find her. Soon, Diana woke up. She started furiously shrieking in attempt to get her way
out. All of a sudden, she recognized the features of the creature. She kept thinking and thinking,
until, she yelled “Grandma?”. She gave out a blood curdling laughter to Diana.
She made her bed, now she must lie in it.