The Enigma of Etheridge House
Once upon a time in the quaint little town of Wayward Pines stood the imposing structure of Etheridge House. Its ancient stone walls held echoes of time past and the mysteries within had been the subject of town folklore for centuries. No one had resided in the house for years, except for one solitary figure, Old Man Etheridge, a descendant of the house's original builders.
Old Man Etheridge was known as a hermit, never venturing out during daylight and always keeping to the premises of Etheridge House. His strange lifestyle led to various rumors about the house hiding a colossal wealth of treasures hidden by his forefathers. His only contact with the outside world was through Martha, the neighborhood grocer's wife, who brought him food and water. She never saw more than the front door and Old Man Etheridge.
One year, Etheridge passed away and left no heirs to claim. The local government seized the house, announcing a town auction, catching the interest of Benjamin Locke, a historian from New York. Fascinated by the mysteries that Etheridge House held, Benjamin purchased the property.
He took up residence and began exploring. Initially, it seemed like a typical old mansion, but he soon uncovered a hidden room behind the study. The room was filled with historical artefacts and chests of gold coins dating back to the colonial era. Along with the treasure, he found a journal belonging to the first Etheridge. It described an ancient native curse placed on the house that only spared the Etheridges but promised ill fortune to any outsider who tampered with their treasure.
Undeterred, Benjamin decided to test the authenticity of the curse. He decided to donate some gold coins to the local museum. That night, he was plagued by disturbing nightmares of furious native spirits. He dismissed it as a manifestation of the stress he had been under.
The next day, his troubles started. People became unusually hostile towards him, his bank locked his accounts due to suspicious activity, and his car broke down in the middle of nowhere. It seemed as if the town itself was turning against him.
Scared, Benjamin decided to put the coins back, hoping it would reverse his ill fate. To his surprise, the instance they returned to their chest, people's hostility abated, and his luck began improving.
Benjamin could not ignore the strangeness of the situation anymore and concluded the curse could be real. He decided to leave the treasure where it lay and transform Etheridge House into a museum, standing testament to the town's history.
He shared the details of his experiences with the townsfolk, adding another chapter to the legends of Etheridge House. The supposed curse did not deter visitors, on the contrary, it drew curiosity-seekers and historians alike, making the museum a popular tourist attraction and breathing new life into the town of Wayward Pines.
In the end, Etheridge House, the hermit's curse, and Benjamin's brave adventure became the stuff of legend. It was a tale woven into the fabric of Wayward Pines, and the tale of the house became synonymous with the town's identity. As for Benjamin, he became a beloved figure, respected for his integrity and courage. Living happily in his mysterious abode, he realized that some secrets of time were best left untouched, their enigma enhancing their allure.