Work Text:
The dusty, sun-drenched silence of Sarah’s hideout envelops Jessica and Susie, a comforting presence amidst the chaos Bart always seems to stir. Jessica, ever the meticulous one, traces the intricate stitching on the massive, moth-eaten stuffed bear, its glassy eyes staring blankly ahead.
"There's gotta be more in here, Jess," Susie mutters, her own gaze sweeping the small, cluttered room, her fingers idly nudging a loose floorboard near the bear's base. "Mom wouldn't just... leave half a relic. That's not how she rolled."
A soft thunk echoes as Susie’s foot connects with something solid and hollow beneath the floor. "Woah! Hey, hold up, sis!" Jessica kneels, brushing away years of accumulated dust.
A faint outline emerges – a square, perfectly camouflaged. They exchange a look, a silent agreement passing between them, a shared spark of their mother's adventurous spirit igniting.
"Operation: Get the Secret Thingy, go!" Susie whispers, her voice filled with a familiar, playful tension.
Together, they grip the rough edges, their small hands working in unison, muscles straining. The wooden panel groans, then gives way, revealing a dark, musty shaft. A gust of stale air, heavy with the scent of old paper and ambition, greets them. They descend cautiously, their flashlights, previously reserved for late-night blanket forts, cutting through the gloom. The tunnel opens into a surprisingly spacious, albeit damp, underground chamber.
Piles of blueprints, crudely drawn maps, and stacks of legal documents are scattered across a rickety table. Susie snatches up a map, her eyes widening. "No way," she breathes, pointing to a sprawling, brightly colored park layout. "Gafooleyland Theme Park?!"
Jessica’s gaze lands on a bold, underlined phrase in a document: “Sale of Martin Ranch lands to Gifooley Enterprises finalized Q3 1994.”
The chilling reality hits them like a cold front. Bart. He's not just turning people away; he's doing something super evil.