The idea was brilliant. It was an idea that would bring new readers and excite the older ones. Being a supernatural newspaper of the region, for some months now that the stories were scarce and ideas for new ones were disappearing. The newsroom would have to find something better and fast, so that they wouldn't be with the regular readers.
"We need captivation. Something to hold the reader in check" blue eyes went through the walls filled with notes.
During the week, clippings had been made of small sightings of ghosts and other beings. Short interviews of something that will happen and even stories invented by some mammals in the newsroom. However, they were not enough, and many were already repeated.
"We already know that. But, what?" Jack drank his quiet coffee, where sometimes a few sighs of frustration were thrown.
"We could see the forest in the Sahara Square area. I heard reports from the mammals living there that it's haunted." Nick proposed but knew it wouldn't help much.
"Only reports are not enough for us. We need something more."
"I could suggest the Cursed Village that everyone is talking about."
From her secretary, Judy reading a small book already old. The three of them looked towards her.
"You know these are just myths," Nick said.
"Nothing better than experimenting. We don't have a good story for the next issue of the month, and we need to captivate the readers. Besides, this cursed village is in the mouth of the world. We can visit it and see if we can get something."
It wasn't a bad idea, it was true. But the problem was the distance from this village just like getting there. A few meters away, in the distant suburbs of Zootopia, in the 17th century, there was a village. This village was very popular for its festivals such as the cultural attraction of the place. Several mammals came from all corners of the Zootopia to visit the small population, which was always received with festivals and affection for its residents. However, without knowing why, the village no longer has its festivals, the mammals stopped going there and the rumors that something very serious happened to such a place, ended up making the village fall into oblivion. From then on, supernatural rumors began to appear and even the disappearance of mammals that ventured into that village was reported. Obvious and, as such, the subject died for a year. Nothing much happened, until recently two cases of two young mammals going there and never coming back. The police intervened and banned entry.
"It will be a lot of work to ask the police for permission to let us in." Jack took the palms of his paws to his exhausted face because of the fatigue.
"I can take care of that if you want," said Judy.
"No. Being the director, I'm going there."
"So, you agree that we should investigate the place?" Nick asked confusingly.
"Yes, Judy is right. This Village is in the mouth of the world and will be a unique opportunity to captivate assiduous readers and call new ones. We will be the only newspaper to report such a thing with evidence."
Nick and Alisha agreed, both diverting from Jack's desk and going each to their own. Judy smiled. It was the first time Jack agreed with her on something without arguing about it like the other times.
During the week, Jack had to wait for police authorization before he could go to the scene. He asked for two days and both have been granted. Nick would be the photographer. Although his task is to write the articles, he preferred the camera this time. Alisha would be the one to guide them. Astute in her orientation, she would be in charge of showing them the way. For the joy of some and for the horrors of Judy, who knew perfectly well that Alisha would make them lose in the blink of an eye. Jack was carrying his camera. He wanted to put an extra video on the Online page and, who knows, capture something interesting in the village. Last but not least, Judy would be the 'rescuer'. Although Alisha had the map, the rabbit had another provisional one. Besides, she would be in charge of writing important information. She would also be in charge of taking pictures. Two was better than just one. Ready, the trip would take two hours and another hour to get up on foot. The van would have to be parked next to the small mountain range that they would have to climb. In times, it would be enough to pass through the main gate and cross the bridge. But due to climate change, the main entrance no longer existed, and they would have to go by other alternative routes.
Along the way, Judy remained her violet eyes fixed on the landscape. Jack kept quiet and concentrated on the dirt road in front of him. Already Nick looked like a drooling fox while talking to Alisha. Being a Vixen, she was all white-haired and had crushing blue crystals in her eyes, her beautiful curves and her perfect glass were not indifferent to a male fox or to any mammal she passed by. However, it was known that Nick had feelings for her, and she had feelings for him. If it was only the feelings, Judy did not know, but that that foxy frilly expression in love ruined her good mood.
If you had fallen in love with another mammal, you wouldn't have been like that.
She repeated to her mind over and over again. At various times she tried to shut up her feelings by trying, in vain, to have something with Jack, the rabbit that also steals hearts. Two dates that were a failure since he felt something for Alisha and not for her.
"We're here!"
Her thoughts were removed to reality, as Jack stopped the van and shut down the engine. Without any delay, Judy opened the door and closed it behind her. She was impressed by the beauty of the forest but mocked her snout when she noticed that the 'supposed' way up to the village would be a difficult task.
"I hate forests," twisting her snout to the beauty in nature, Alisha put on an ugly expression when she noticed the path they would have to climb.
Meanwhile, Nick and Jack took two backpacks out of the van, delivering the other two to the females. Since they would have to spend two days there, they wouldn't have to sleep in the open and on an empty stomach.
"The cops will come the day after tomorrow to us," said Jack, closing the door. "They want to make sure that we hand over the keys to the front door and that we really get out of here."
Surrounding the van, the four began to climb the dirt track until it was possible to see the main door that would lead to the cursed village.
To be continued…
