The Mitchell Family Curse
Pitch Perfect Horror Week 2021 - Day Two
#HW2102
A/N: There will be time jumps later in the fic. Also, fair warning there is mention of a major character's death.
Bellas practice was running longer than Beca had wanted. But the choreography was being changed again and Beca found herself staring at Chloe as she showed the girls the newest moves she had come up with. The moves were somewhat sensual and Beca had to bite her tongue to keep from making inappropriate sounds while taking in every move Chloe made.
"And that's it," Chloe said as the music stopped. "What do you guys think?"
"Very sexy, Chloe," Stacie said. "Don't you think, Beca?"
"Huh? What?" Beca stammered. "It was, uh, um, very, uh-. I mean. What?"
"I think you broke her, Chlo," CR said, laughing as Beca's face turned red.
"Leave her alone, CR," Chloe admonished. "She's fine. Aren't you, Beca?"
"Yep," Beca responded. "I am A-okay. But, Chloe, those new moves are a bit, um, sexy don't you think?"
"Of course they are," Choe said. "It's expected of us. We're the only all-girl acapella group and we are expected to deliver a sexy, kickass performance and the new moves will do that. We can't just sing great, we have to look great doing it."
"Oh, okay," Beca said, shrugging her shoulders and gathering her belongings. "You're the choreographer, so I guess you know what you're doing. Can we pick this up tomorrow? I have a lot of homework to get through."
"Me, too," Ashley said.
"Okay," Chloe said. "That's it for today. We'll go over the new steps first thing at tomorrow's practice. Stacie, could you stick around and let me show you the new steps? That way we can both teach them to the girls tomorrow."
"Sure thing, Chloe," Stacie said as the rest of the girls hurriedly gathered their stuff and left.
~~ Pitch Perfect Horror Week - Day 2 ~~
It was two weeks later, at yet another Bellas party, Beca found herself sighing as she watched Chloe from across the room. Stacie looked at Beca and followed her gaze, noticing Chloe look over at Beca and Beca immediately looking away.
"You need to ask that girl out," Stacie said. "This pining thing you have going on is getting old."
"I. . .can't," Beca mumbled.
"Why not?" Stacie asked. "You're both single now, and it's obvious you both care about each other."
"It's, um, it's complicated," Beca stammered.
"No, it's not," Stacie responded. "You're overthinking things like you always do."
"I do not overthink things," Beca huffed.
Beca looked at Stacie and Stacie stared back at her, narrowing her eyes as she studied Beca's face.
"What's really going on, Beca?" Stacie asked. "What's the real reason you won't ask Chloe out?"
"I can't tell you," Beca said. "You'll think it's stupid and make fun of me."
"I promise I won't make fun of you," Stacie said.
Beca took a deep breath through her nose and exhaled loudly out her mouth.
"I'm cursed," Beca said, quickly looking around to see if anyone heard before looking down at the floor.
Stacie narrowed her eyes even more and stared at Beca. When Beca continued to look down at the floor, Stacie grabbed her by the arm and dragged her toward the stairs.
"Stacie, let me go," Beca cried out, trying to break free of Stacie's grip.
Fearing they would run into one of the Bellas upstairs, Stacie changed course and took Beca outside. Once outside, Stacie looked to ensure no one was about and let Beca go.
"Okay, spill!" Stacie said, standing in front of Beca to keep her from getting away from her. "Tell me why you think you're cursed."
"I don't think I'm cursed," Beca said. "I know I am."
"Fine," Stacie said. "Then tell me about this curse."
Beca looked down into her empty cup and sighed. "I haven't had enough to drink for this."
Beca made a move to go back inside; Stacie blocked her way.
"Chloe saw me dragging you out here," Stacie said. "So, I'd say you have about two minutes to tell me what you're talking about before she comes out to check on you."
Beca opened her mouth as if to speak, only to snap it shut when the front door opened behind Stacie.
"Beca?" Chloe said from the doorway. "Is everything okay?"
"Everything's fine, Chloe," Stacie said over her shoulder. "Beca was feeling a little hot and needed some fresh air."
Chloe came out and walked over to Beca. She placed a hand on Beca's arm and asked, "Are you okay now?"
"Um, yeah," Beca said, clearing her throat. "I'm much better now. Thanks, Stacie."
"Anytime, Beca," Stacie said.
Beca nodded and moved past Chloe and Stacie. They both watched Beca go back into the house. Once Beca was out of sight, Chloe turned to Stacie.
"Is she really okay?"
"She says she's okay."
"But, you don't think she's okay, do you?"
"I honestly don't know what to tell you, Chloe," Stacie said and went back inside, leaving Chloe alone on the porch.
~~ Pitch Perfect Horror Week - Day 2 ~~
Once inside, Beca pushed her way through the throng of partiers and went upstairs to her room.
Stacie came in after Beca and looked around for her. She grabbed the closest person.
"Do you know where Beca went?" Stacie asked.
"Who's Beca?" the guy asked.
"She went upstairs, Stacie," Jessica said from Stacie's left. "Looked like she was heading toward her room."
"Thanks, Jessica," Stacie said.
Stacie headed upstairs and Chloe saw her when she came in the door. She followed after Stacie and saw Stacie enter the door leading up to Beca's room.
Chloe walked over to the door and saw that it was left slightly ajar. She quietly pushed it open and started to walk upstairs. She stopped when she heard Stacie's voice mentioning something about a curse.
"Tell me about this curse," Stacie said, leaning against Beca's desk.
Chloe was shocked and stood with one hand leaning against the wall as she listened for Beca's response.
"What do you want to know about it?" Beca asked.
"What is it?" Stacie asked. "And why is it keeping you from asking Chloe out?"
Chloe's hand went to her mouth to cover the slight gasp that escaped.
"Beca wants to ask me out?" Chloe thought.
"My family was cursed," Beca began. "The story goes that my, um, I don't know how many greats grandfather accused several women of being witches during the Salem Witch Hunts back in the 1600s. One of the women he accused of being a witch cursed him with her dying breath as she was being hanged."
"What does that have to do with you not starting something with Chloe?" Stacie asked.
"Let me start from the beginning," Beca said and sighed. "My dad has several journals of his family's that date back to the 1600s, and one of them was from my great-great, whatever, grandmother, Elizabeth Booth. In it, she told of how her husband, Israel Shaw, and several others were part of the group that accused several women of being witches. She then went on to describe, in very graphic detail, the hangings of these women. One of them, Sarah Proctor, was personally accused by Israel Shaw. The story goes on to say that with her last breath, Sarah allegedly said, 'I am not a witch, but I curse you and your family, Israel Shaw. Your family will suffer great heartbreak and sorrow. Any child born of your family from now and centuries beyond will lose their most beloved in a horrific manner. It is said and it will be done.' She then took her last breath and became limp."
"Beca," Stacie said. "You don't really believe all that, do you?"
"I do," Beca said. "There are several instances where a member of our family has watched their loved one die in a terrible accident. Or, as Sarah Proctor foretold, a horrific manner. I can't risk that happening to Chloe."
"Don't you think that Chloe should have a say in whether she's willing to take on that risk in order to be with you?"
Chloe continued to stand silently at the bottom of the stairs, anxiously awaiting Beca's response to Stacie's question.
Beca was silent for a few minutes. She started shaking her head as she said, "No, I don't think so. I think I'd rather keep Chloe at arm's length than have something awful happen to her."
"That makes me wonder," Stacie said. "If you love Chloe, but don't tell her, does the curse still work?"
"What?" Beca asked, her face scrunched in confusion. "I don't understand what you mean."
"I mean, several of us already know how much you care for Chloe," Stacie said. "But do you actually have to tell Chloe you love her in order for the curse to affect her?"
"Beca loves me?"
Chloe smiled and continued to remain still as she listened to Beca and Stacie's conversation.
"I, um, I don't know," Beca said. "I never thought about it before."
"Might be worth thinking about," Stacie said. "Because if it affects her even without you saying anything, wouldn't you want to be able to spend some time loving her before something happens to her? And, by the way, I don't believe for a minute that something horrific will happen to Chloe if you tell her."
Beca chewed on her bottom lip as she processed what Stacie had said. She decided she was going to call her grandmother and see what she knows about how the curse could be stopped from happening.
Chloe heard Stacie telling Beca goodnight, so she quietly slipped out the door and hurried back downstairs to rejoin the party. Her smile stayed in place for the rest of the night.
~~ Pitch Perfect Horror Week - Day 2 ~~
After Stacie left, Beca looked at the time and saw that it was almost nine o'clock in Oregon, so she placed a call to her grandmother.
"Hey, Gram," Beca said when her grandmother answered the phone.
"Beca!" Gram yelled into the phone, causing Beca to wince and pull the phone from her ear. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"What?" Beca asked as she placed the phone back to her ear. "Oh, I, um, I wanted to ask you something about the family curse."
"What do you want to know?"
"Does it have the same effect if you love someone but don't actually tell them?"
"Um, I don't know," Gram replied. "I don't recall reading anything or hearing about that ever happening."
"But it could, right?" Beca prodded. "I mean if I love someone but don't say the words to them, is it possible that something horrific could still happen to them?"
"I guess anything is possible," Gram said. "Who's the guy? Someone you met at school?"
"It's a girl, Gram," Beca said. "She's my best friend. I told you about her. You remember me talking about Chloe, right? It's her; she's the one."
"Oh, right, I remember you mentioning her," Gram said. "So, you love her?"
"I want to say yes, but I'm still afraid of the curse harming her in some way," Beca said.
"I can't believe you believe in that curse," Gram scoffed. "It's never been proven to be real. Sure, some of our family lost loved ones soon after admitting their feelings, but that could have happened at any time. Besides, the last incident on record was like two hundred years or more ago."
"So, you think if I tell her, she'll be okay?"
"I do," Gram said. "It's just an old story from someone's journal or diary that somehow got handed down from generation to generation without any merit to it whatsoever. So, please tell the girl how you feel about her before you lose your chance with her."
"Thanks, Gram," Beca said, smiling even though her Gram couldn't see it.
"You're most welcome, sweetie," Gram said. "So, when are you coming to see me? And bringing your new girlfriend so I can meet the woman who stole my Beca's heart."
"I'll have to make her my girlfriend first," Beca said, chuckling into the phone.
Beca talked to her Gram for a little longer and made plans for her and Chloe to visit once she became Beca's girlfriend.
~~ Pitch Perfect Horror Week - Day 2 ~~
The next morning, Beca woke early and hurriedly dressed and left her room. She quietly made her way to Chloe's room and softly knocked.
"Beca?" Chloe said when she opened her door to find Beca standing there. "You're up early. Is everything okay?"
"Everything's fine," Beca said. "I wanted to catch you before everyone else was up."
Chloe folded her arms and leaned a shoulder against the door frame. "Why?"
"I, uh, wanted to ask you to breakfast," Beca blurted out. "I mean, I want to take you out, um, to breakfast. Just the two of us."
"Hmm," Chloe hummed. "This sounds like you're asking me on a date. Are you?"
"Um, yeah?" Beca whispered, looking down at her feet.
"It's about time," Chloe said, smiling as she stood straight and used her fingers to lift Beca's head so she could look into Beca's eyes. "I was beginning to think you'd never ask."
"Really?" Beca squeaked and then cleared her throat. "Really?"
"I've been hoping you would," Chloe said.
"Really?" Beca asked again.
"Yes, Beca. Really," Chloe said, grabbing Beca's arm and leading her toward the stairs. "Let's leave before anyone else gets up. I don't want any of them tagging along on our first date."
Beca smiled as she happily let Chloe lead her down the stairs and out of the Bellas house.
~~ Pitch Perfect Horror Week - Day 2 ~~
There were a few times in the early months of their relationship that Beca thought the old family curse was going to finally get her and she would lose Chloe. But, nothing happened to Chloe and Beca grew to love her more every day.
It was six months after their first date that Beca honored her promise to her Gram and took Chloe home to meet her.
"I'm so glad you two are here," Gram said, greeting Beca and Chloe.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs.-" Chloe started to say but was interrupted.
"None of that Mrs. stuff, child," Gram said. "Everybody calls me Gram."
"Oh, okay," Chloe said, chuckling. "Thanks for inviting me, Gram."
"I'm just so happy to see my Beca so happy," Gram said.
Beca and Chloe stayed for a long weekend before heading back to Barden.
~~ Pitch Perfect Horror Week - Day 2 ~~
"It's Graduation Day!" Chloe squealed, waking Beca.
"It's too early," Beca moaned into her pillow. "Come back to bed."
"No can do, cupcake," Chloe said, shaking Beca. "We have to get ready and have breakfast with Brey before the ceremony."
"Did you just call me cupcake?" Beca asked, squinting over her shoulder at Chloe.
"Get up, Beca," Chloe said. "I'm finally graduating, with my girlfriend no less. I'm too excited to go back to sleep."
"We don't have to sleep," Beca said, waggling her eyebrows.
"You're insatiable," Chloe said, chuckling.
"Have you seen you?" Beca asked, leering at Chloe.
Chloe let out a squeal when Beca suddenly sat up and tackled her, causing them to both fall onto the bed, with Beca on top of Chloe. Needless to say, they were late meeting Aubrey.
After winning Worlds, Beca and Chloe moved to New York. Beca had a legit job offer as a Junior Music Producer and asked Chloe to go with her. Chloe wasn't sure what she was going to do but decided she could figure that out once she moved to New York with Beca. They lived in a one-room apartment with Amy, who just showed up one day and moved in. Beca and Chloe just let her and the three somehow made it work.
Beca and Chloe managed to keep their love going even with Amy's constant interruptions. They had been living together for almost three years when they found out that the Bellas were invited to participate in a USO Tour. They were even more excited when they learned the tour was also a competition with the prize being a recording contract with DJ Khaled's studio.
After a slow start, the Bellas found their sound and enthralled the crowds with their unique style of performing. The Bellas didn't win the coveted recording contract, but Beca first Beca didn't want to accept the offer, but Chloe and the other Bellas talked Beca into accepting and the rest was, as they say, history.
~~ Pitch Perfect Horror Week - Day 2 ~~
After signing with DJ Khaled, Beca and Chloe moved to L.A.
They had been in L.A. for a year when Beca decided she wanted to ask Chloe to marry her. Beca enlisted the help of the Bellas and performed a tear-filled musical number in front of the crowd at one of Beca's sold-out concert performances.
Chloe of course said yes, and they were married a year later. The Bellas called them the "goals couple" and truly believed their love was one for the ages and that nothing or no one was ever going to separate them. They were Titanium.
Over the next four years, Beca and Chloe had two children. Chloe carried their first; she had a boy they named Dylan. Beca carried their second child and had a girl they named Sophie. The children helped round out their loving family, and Beca and Chloe were happier than they ever believed possible.
Beca and Chloe had become empty nesters when Sophie turned twenty-one and moved to New York to pursue her dream of acting on Broadway. Dylan had moved out a few years before to move to Chicago where he got an internship at the Chicago Medical Center.
~~ Pitch Perfect Horror Week - Day 2 ~~
Friends, fans, and families alike were rocked by the news of the sudden deaths of Beca and Chloe. After thirty years of marriage, they were found in the rubble of their LA home following a massive earthquake that rocked most of Southern California. Searchers reported that the couple was found, embracing the other.
Beca and Chloe had died the way they lived; together and in love.