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Valdell, back in it’s prime, was a town of promise. This green desert valley was once the goldmine of the west. Overnight, the population exploded as gold prospectors and tourists flooded the town, eager to get their hands on gold and see the green haven in the middle of the desert. But it wasn’t long before the goldmines were nothing but dust, and just as quickly as the people came, the people left. One small family - a sickly husband, his wife and their children - decided to stay in Valdell. The family was offered a room in the local Doctor’s residence, and it was much needed as the sickly man’s health was rapidly depleting. The small town of Valdell was very supportive of the new family, and visited the man every day and prayed for his health. However, it wasn’t long before the sickly man passed away due to respiratory failure and shock. The town mourned for the family, and welcomed them with open arms. A few days had passed, and a couple residents started visiting the doctor, complaining of cough, fever, and nausea. A week had passed and half of the town had become infected, showing the same symptoms the sickly man had possessed. A month later, and the town was down to the last 16 residents, who all fled to other towns, to escape the “devil disease,” which scientists now know as the pneumonic plague.
Decades later, the town is still empty. Will the town of Valdell rise again?