Dusk was on the horizon, melding the sky into a rich golden yellow. The glowing sun absent from the picturesque scene, having fallen from view, hidden behind skyscrapers. A subtle temperature change followed with the coming of night.

The perfect hour to do unspeakable activities as Thea would say.

"So explain this plan again," remarked Irene in a tired voice. Any moment a yawn would escape while they walked to the group meeting.

"The mother of a cousin of my friend's sister, who was the sister of this weird chick. And the friend of her who got stuck in a mental hospital-,"

"Not that part," Irene interrupted Thea's story of whom the idea originated from.

"Well fine then," she sulked. "Anyways, they spoke of a curse that puts you to sleep. Nothing special right? Well, to dispel the curse, a kiss is needed. I swear I've heard this story before somewhere else..." her explanation turned into a mumble as she scoured the corners of her mind, trying to place the stories roots.

She spared a glance at her friend. Thea slowly raised both hands into the air, her gesture an attempt at dissecting an imaginary object. She slapped her forehead, berating herself for the awkward position she walked into. Thea grew more eccentric each year. Irene slid her body to the left—nudging her—she broke her odd display for the public. "Continue."

"Oh sorry. Yea, so what if we change the curse? Spice it up," she said with eyes full of excitement. "Make it pop!"

"Your idea of making something pop, is me in a bathroom, throwing up all night. Can we please keep this simple?" She sighed unhappily that her last resort was Thea's plan.

"Okay," she sung out loud. Her hands swinging into a synchronized clap as she moved. "No making it pop. Got it. How about an out-of-body experience?"

She shook her head frantically, feeling a cold chill travel up her spine. As if imaginative creepy crawlers blew wisps of air in a line ascending her back. The thought caused her to rub the area, ending the sensation. "No. I want my soul in my body when the curse is removed."

"Fine, fine."

They continued their pace with streetlights turning on as they strode towards their destination. An abandoned factory on the outskirts of the city.

They took a cab a few blocks before, weary of watchful eyes. Cars rushed past them as they made their way to the meeting. Their lights blinding them if looked upon directly. Only several people wandered the street, the section being far from public transportation.

At an intersection, they took a right onto a dirt road. Metal fencing on both sides, with signs warning 'authorized personnel only'. No lights lit their path, only the last fleeting rays of sunlight helped them arrive with no mishaps.

"Eerie isn't it," Thea remarked with a small giggle. The bustle of traffic slowly turning into a distant sound.

They hit the side of the darkened factory, the building looming over them. Rusted metal boards dyed in a reddish tint shelled the exterior. Boarded-up windows lined the walls, most inlaid on the second story level.

They followed the building outline, moving around towards the back. Metal I-beams and plywood were stacked in messy piles. They tiptoed carefully through shattered glass bottles that scattered the ground. Until they reached a closed door. Its hinges rusted, but the black paint was clean without a crack or smudge. Its glossy coat implying it had been painted recently.

"Oh, let me do the honor," squeaked Thea in a chirpy voice.

She moved aside, letting her friend stand before the door. Thea knocked once against the metal. Then waited momentarily before knocking twice in a row. Again she paused. After a much longer wait, she knocked repeatedly without rest, before stopping completely.

Her hand fell away, a wide grin spreading across her face. "This will be fun."

Irene felt her friend's enthusiasm from her fingertips down to her toes. Her heart rate picked up, waiting for a response to Thea's coded message.

Scratches sounded behind the door, alongside the shuffle of feet. The door handle turned, and the hinges cringed as the door inched open towards them. A dim light spilled out from the gap, barreling towards the darkness.

An old, frail hand stuck out from the gap. The skin clinging to the bony fingers as it curled into a 'come hither' gesture. "Welcome ladies," cackled an old woman in a raspy voice.

A/N: Yes, the story is based on a fairy tale. This chapter hints towards it.