The Wardwells were Shadysiders through and through. Prey for the ever hungry land that they were born on. Dead before their time – assuming they weren't slaughtered in Shadyside's recent tragedy. Yet they've claw their way back every time. 

Because the Wardwells were Shadysiders through and through. For better and for worse. 

1994 ⸻ in the forest where I feel no pain

Rebecca Wardwell always thought she would die first. She didn't might really. There were four of them in her generation, and half were destined for an early grave, so her chances weren't that good. But until then the march went on. Forward, ever forward for Shadyside's little sheep.

Except it was Liz that died instead. One of the unlucky ones who'd been forced to work the nightshift at Shadyside's mall. 

Marney Wardwell always knew there was more. The story of Sarah Fier seemed too perfect for the real world. To most that didn't matter, because it was only legend to begin with. But Marney was a believer, a believer that there was something more if she just kept digging.

Yet what unearthed the truth wasn't Marney Wardwell, but Sam Fraser's chance encounter with the bones of a long dead witch. What they find is more than they can ever imagine. 

May Elizabeth Wardwell rest in peace. Because God knows her sisters won't. 

1978 ⸻ the hand that feeds deserves to be bitten when it beats

Ruben Wardwell wanted to forget. The only survivor of the car crash that killed their parents. The reason they had been dropped in the lap of their older brother, who could barely be considered an adult. But that was normal, wasn't it? That was how thing had always been. Why should it hurt? Why did it hurt? 

At least there was Camp Nightwing, where only Ziggy Berman cared enough to know how that summer had begun. The woods consume all, after all, where better to disappear?

Abraham Wardwell wanted to be remembered. Fifteen years and the only thing anyone knew about him was that he was Ruben's twin. No matter how many times he proudly bragged about sharing a name with Abraham Van Helsing, he was no vampire hunter. He was just little Bram Wardwell. That was fine. That was safe. 

But it couldn't be forever. One day he would have to step out of the shadows. Who knows. Maybe, Bram thought, this would be his year. 

It's a lesson as old as time. Be careful what you wish for – it might just come true.

1666 ⸻ me and the devil walkin' side by side

Miron Wardwell would go down in history as a murderer. The second in what would become a long line of them. But he didn't know that then, God knows what would have happened if he did. 

Miron's fear for his future wasn't the possibility of slaughtering everyone he once loved – it was knowing what would become of him. Who was he supposed to be? Everyone was telling him, and none of it was making sense. 

Sybil Wardwell would go down in history as a witch. A young girl, gifted in arts unknown to those around her. At least for a few generations. Unlike her brother and Shadyside's other doomed dead girl, Sybil would eventually fade into the sea of untold history. 

But the truth is, everything began with Sybil Wardwell. It only makes sense that it would end with her as well. 

No matter how many years it takes. 

Author's Notes: Welcome to Urban Legends – again! Hopefully this version is...uhhh...less bad? Or more good, I suppose, I don't think the first was actually bad. Just not to my personal standards. Hopefully you agree! Or at least that it's the same, I'd be embarrassing if the new version ended up worse (luckily I don't think you'll know. There wasn't a lot of readers on the original, lmao.)