The White Witch of Fremont

You're 35 miles into the tour and find yourself in Fremont. You're taking a slight side trip to check out the legend of the 'white witch'. But, you've got a <a href="http://www.sasquatchracing.com/diary-entry-white-witch-of-fremont/">few thoughts to jot down in your diary</a> before you venture further. There are a few different versions of the story, but they all seem to revolve around Niles Canyon Road, the '<a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/secret-sidewalk">secret sidewalk</a>', and the nearby train tracks. You've been jogging up Old Canyon Road and have now hit a dead end. In front of you are some spooky looking trees and the faint remnants of some kind of trail leading into the woods. [[Contine on the trail into the woods.]]

You make your way through the creepy, gnarled trees and onto the faint dirt trail that leads deeper into the woods. Why is it that witches always seem to reside in the woods? You're reminded of perhaps the most terrifying (and brilliant) film about witches (and the woods) you've ever seen, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blair_Witch_Project">The Blair Witch Project.</a> The faint, narrow trail is surrounded by trees on all sides. They block much of the sun from penetrating. The path ahead is strewn with lengthy, dark shadows. You wander a bit further and find yourself at a major intersection. [[Continue.]]

(set: $tiara to false) (set: $cave to false) (set: $cabin to false) (set: $raft to false) (set: $bottles to false) (set: $crown to false) (set: $hole to false) [[Begin|Beginning.]]

(if: $raft is true) [Dead ahead is a dark, foul looking (and smelling) bog. The surface of this rank body of water is covered with a gross looking muck. You can't even fathom what lies beneath. The path continues on the other side of the bog towards the secret sidewalk. But, somehow you have to find a way to get across the most disgusting body of water you've ever seen. The bad news is you don't swim. The good news is you did manage to pick up that raft at the creepy cabin filled with the dead animal bits. [[Row across the bog of eternal stench on the raft.]] [[Explore something else.|Continue.]] ] (else: ) [ Dead ahead is a dark, foul looking (and smelling) bog. The surface of this rank body of water is covered with a gross looking muck. You can't even fathom what must lie beneath. The path continues on the other side of the bog towards the secret sidewalk. But, somehow you have to find a way to get across the most disgusting body of water you've ever seen. The bad news is you don't swim. You just don't do it. The good news is the bog of eternal stench looks like it might be shallow enough for you to wade across. The idea makes you makes you ill, but... [[Try to wade across the bog of eternal stench.]] [[Explore something else.|Continue.]] ]

Your adventure thus far has been woefully devoid of weird, creepy caves. So, you veer right and head towards the creepy cave. You find yourself pondering the idea of a 'non-creepy' cave. Does such a thing exist? Speaking of creepy caves, you can't help but think of the scariest cave related horror flick you've ever seen, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Descent">The Descent</a>. The last 20-30 minutes of that one nearly gave you a heart attack. The creepy cave in that flick contained some serious scares. As you approach the creepy cave, your buzz hasn't kicked in. But, the buzz has its limitations. It can only detect the supernatural. If there's some kind of creepy, cannibalistic, subterranean, quasi-human creature in this cave, your buzz isn't going to warn you. [[Continue.|Deeper into the cave.]]

You do your best to stifle your overactive imagination (and thoughts of cannibalistic cave dwelling creatures) and venture deeper into the cave. Your flashlight does little to penetrate the darkness ahead. It barely illuminates a few feet in front of you. The path twists and turns a bit before terminating in a cavernous room. There are no signs of life currently here. But, someone (or something) has been here in the not so recent past. You scan the room with the flashlight on your phone. There are a few random items scattered about. There are some empty bottles near what appears to be the remains of a long ago burned out fire. There's a crown that looks like it came from Burger King. There's also a similarly cheap looking tiara. [[Examine the bottles near the long ago burned out fire.]] [[Take a look at the crown.]] [[The tiara intrigues. Give it a look.]] [[Exit the cave and explore something else.|Continue.]]

Dead ahead you can see what appears to be a body of water. There's a path to the right that leads to what looks like a small cave. To the left is a path that leads deeper into the woods. [[Head straight and check out the body of water.]] [[Veer right and explore the cave.]] [[Head left deeper into the woods.]]

(if: $cabin is true) [ You already checked out the creepy cabin full of nasty animal bits. [[Head back and explore something else.|Continue.]] ] (else: )[ The path meanders deeper into the woods. The shadows lengthen as the sun gradually descends towards the horizon. A cold breeze chills your bones. You round a corner and there in the distance is an ancient, rundown cabin. It bears a striking resemblance to the old cabin from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Evil_Dead">The Evil Dead.</a> It even has a creepy old porch swing in front lazily swinging back and forth. Your ghost buzz is deafeningly silent thus far. But, you're not sure if your buzz works on <a href="https://evildead.fandom.com/wiki/Deadite">Deadites.</a> [[Check out the creepy cabin in the woods.]] [[Head back and explore something else.|Continue.]] ]

(if: $bottles is true) [You've already given the bottles a once over. [[Check out some other items in the cave.|Check out objects in the cave.]] ] (else: ) [There are a few empty bottles near what looks like a long ago burned out fire. One looks like an old empty bottle of 'Brut' champagne. There are also some empty bottles of hard seltzer and hard cider. You can't be sure, but it looks like some kids were having some kind of party in here long ago. [[Check out some other items in the cave.|Check out objects in the cave.]] ] (set: $bottles to true)

(if: $crown is true) [You've already given the prom king's crown a look. [[Check out some other items in the cave.|Check out objects in the cave.]] ] (else: ) [You pick up the crown. Far from being the crown an actual 'king' would wear, this is a cheap, flimsy, store bought crown that says 'prom king' on it. Maybe some kids came out here as part of a prom related celebration? [[Check out some other items in the cave.|Check out objects in the cave.]] ] (set: $crown to true)

As you reach down to pick up the tiara, you feel a faint buzz at the back of your neck. You pick up the tiara and the buzz spikes violently. One story you've read about the white witch involves a high school aged girl dressed for prom wandering the area. Perhaps this tiara is hers? You tuck the tiara into your backpack. (set: $tiara to true) (set: $cave to true) [[Check out some other items in the cave.|Check out objects in the cave.]]

(if: $tiara is true) [ [[Examine the bottles near the long ago burned out fire.]] [[Take a look at the crown.]] [[Exit the cave and explore something else.|Continue.]] ] (else: ) [ [[Examine the bottles near the long ago burned out fire.]] [[Take a look at the crown.]] [[The tiara intrigues. Give it a look.]] [[Exit the cave and explore something else.|Continue.]] ]

You click on your flashlight as you enter the cave. A legion of bats flies directly at your face! You throw your hands up to protect yourself as the agitated (and angrily squeaking bats) fly past you out of the cave. You take a few deep breaths to collect yourself. As long as they're not vampire bats, you're probably ok. This cave has you a bit unnerved already. [[Continue deeper into the cave.]] [[Forget the cave. Head back to the trail intersection and explore something else.|Continue.]]

You head cautiously towards the Evil Dead inspired cabin. The porch swing continues to swing back and forth lazily as you head towards the front door. Gingerly, you grasp the handle and open it. An overpoweringly foul stench of long dead animals and fish makes your head spin. You keel over and nearly lose your lunch. When your head clears, you flick on your flashlight and take a look inside the cabin. While there are no <a href="https://evildead.fandom.com/wiki/Deadite">Deadites</a> to speak of here, there are plenty of long dead animals (and fish) here. There are bones, random bits of fur, skeletons, antlers, and the list goes on. This is someone's hunting cabin. Nestled in the corner of the cabin is a small raft with a couple oars. This might come in handy if you check out the body of water...particularly given the fact that swimming is not really your thing. You grab the raft. [[Exit the malodorous cabin and explore something else.|Continue.]] (set: $raft to true) (set: $cabin to true)

Your oar breaks the surface of the bog and an ungodly stench nearly knocks you out of the boat. You really don't want to know what's below the surface of this black and milky fluid you're currently floating on. It looks like liquid death. You hold your breath and row as fast as you can. The bog is deep. Mercifully, it's not very wide. You find your way to the other side without any major issue and disembark. [[Continue down the path on the other side of the bog.]] [[Head back across the bog and explore something else.|Continue.]]

(if: $hole and $tiara is true) [ You jog down the path and head down the secret sidewalk. The prom queen hovers above the hole expectantly. 'Does this help?' You inquire. Her perplexed expression fades and is replaced by something resembling bliss. 'Thanks so much! I'm SO LATE! I've got to go! My parents are going to KILL ME!' The prom queen turns, sprints, and disappears into the woods. [[Continue.|Aftermath.]] ] (else: ) [ The rank odor of the bog (of eternal stench) fades as you continue down the path towards the secret sidewalk. The path is pretty faint which makes sense as it's unlikely many would be bold enough to brave that foul bog. But, you're a member of the Cohen Clan, your middle name is BOLD. After what feels like 1/4 mile of jogging, you finally find the 'secret sidewalk'. It's strange. It's secluded. Therefore, it is inherently spooky...whether a 'white witch' hangs out here or not. There's an undeniably ghostly vibe to this place. Right on cue, the buzz does its thing. Something spooky this way comes. [[Continue down the secret sidewalk.|Secret Sidewalk.]] [[Explore something else.|Continue.]] ]

This place is allegedly a 'magnet for the curious and the mischievous'. Walking on top of the sidewalk, you get it. It's strange, graffiti-covered, and abandoned. You also get why a group of drunk, teen-aged kids might come out here to party. It's this kind of drunken adolescent behavior that almost always results in trouble. It's also frequently the beginning of a lot of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Know_What_You_Did_Last_Summer">cheesy, scary movies involving teens.</a> You wander a bit further down and notice a large dark hole in the middle of the sidewalk. The buzz makes its presence known. Something's down there. [[Check out the hole.]] [[Explore something else.|Continue.]]

Your neck is buzzing like an angry beehive as you step towards the dark hole. The temperature drops about 15 degrees. This would be yet another not so subtle sign a lost soul is here. You carefully lean over the dark hole and peer down into its recesses. It's nothing but inky blackness. You click on your flashlight and it does next to nothing to illuminate the eternal darkness below. Then, you hear it. It's a faint whisper. Suddenly, a ghostly white face materializes staring directly up at you! You stumble and fall backwards. The apparation from the hole floats out of the hole. It's a pale, young girl dressed like she's going to prom. She floats towards you with her ghostly white arms outstretched. She looks perplexed as she opens her mouth to speak. [[Listen to the ghostly prom queen.]] (set: $hole to true)

You love it when a plan comes together! So, the 'white witch' is actually the 'prom queen'. All she needed to head over to the other side was her tiara. Not all ghost stories end so pleasantly. But, you're thankful for the rare ones that do! It's time to move onto the next haunt. You can't shake the feeling that the Nur is getting closer. It's not a question of if, but when you will run afoul of him again. -End.

(if: $tiara is true) ['Have you seen it? I came out here looking for it and fell down. I CAN'T leave until I find it!' You think you know what she's talking about. She's dressed for prom. But, she's missing one thing....a tiara. You reach into your backpack and grab the tiara. 'Does this help?' You inquire. Her perplexed expression fades and is replaced by something resembling bliss. 'Thanks so much! I'm SO LATE! I've got to go! My parents are going to KILL ME!' The prom queen turns, sprints, and disappears into the woods. [[Continue.|Aftermath.]] ] (else: ) [ 'Have you seen it? I came out here looking for it and fell down. I CAN'T leave until I find it!' She's dressed for prom. But, you haven't much of a clue what she's talking about. 'I'm sorry. What are you looking for?' You ask. 'My tiara! I've got to find it!' She responds frantically. You nod your head and try to calm the prom queen 'Got it. Why don't you hang out here and I will see if I can find it?' You reply. I'll be back in a few. Hang tight!' You're not sure if you can find the tiara, but it's got to be around here somewhere. [[Explore another spot and see if you can find the prom queen's tiara.|Continue.]] ]

It's probably the worst idea you've ever had. One step into the bog and you gag violently. One more step and you find yourself waist deep in the most disgusting, black, vile, foul smelling liquid you've ever encountered. It's like liquid death. Forget this. There's got to be another way to get across. Maybe there's something in the vicinity that might help you get across. [[Head back and look for something that might help you get across the bog.|Continue.]]