Chap 2

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In the town of Cerros Blanco, nestled amidst rolling hills and lush forests, lived Eztli, a young woman with an insatiable curiosity for all things supernatural. Eztli's fascination with the paranormal often led her to buy mysterious objects and delve into the world of mysterious things, much to her mother's chagrin.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Eztli's mother sternly reprimanded her for her latest purchase of a weird objects. "What did I tell you about buying the weird  stuff?" her mother scolded, her voice tinged with concern. "If you do it again, I'll give you something to be afraid of."

Eztli hung her head, knowing she had crossed a line. Her mother continued, "You are not too old to believe in these things. Don't tell me next time you are buying curse objects."

Just then, Ohtli, Eztli's loyal dog, padded into the room and nuzzled against her, offering silent comfort. Eztli hugged Ohtli tightly, finding solace in his presence.

Her mother's tone softened slightly as she informed Eztli that her father would return the next day.

However, can I watch my marathon tv show that day? Her mother said to her, If you don't do what I said, I will forbid you from watching TV for a whole week.

However, Eztli couldn't help but tease her mother, saying, "I am kidding, really. I am not scared of ghosts, but I am scared of not having TV." Her mother chuckled at Eztli's playful nature.

She suggested that they have a chat together with her father that evening. Eztli nodded, understanding her mother's attempt to steer her away from her supernatural pursuits. But she knows that family time is important, and besides, dad has good stories for her.

As the night wore on, Eztli asked, "Mom, can I watch my show 'Haunted Places' before bed? I really want to." Her mother hesitated, weighing the request, but Eztli's pleading eyes eventually convinced her to agree.

Settling down on the couch, Eztli couldn't hide her smile as she grabbed the remote, the blue light from the TV casting a spectral glow across the room. The theme music of 'Haunted Places' played, sending shivers down her spine. Eztli watched the eerie tales of haunted locations unfold on the screen, her heart racing with a mix of excitement and fear. She loved the show for its suspenseful buildups and the way it made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. Each episode presented a different location with a unique set of chilling stories, and tonight's was a supposedly haunted lighthouse on Yohualli lotl.

The show's host, a charismatic man named Octavio, began to narrate the history of the lighthouse, detailing the tragedies that had occurred there. The camera swept over the stark, desolate landscape, the towering structure standing tall and ominous against the inky backdrop of the night. Eztli leaned in closer, the couch cushions hugging her. The cool air from the air conditioner whispered through the room, setting the perfect mood for the eerie tale.

As the episode progressed, Octavio and his team of paranormal investigators explored the lighthouse, their flashlights piercing the darkness and revealing dusty corridors and cobwebbed staircases. Eztli's eyes grew wider with each step they took, her heart thumping in her chest as they recounted the whispers of lost sailors and the spectral figure of a former keeper's wife who had met a grisly end. The team set up their ghost-hunting equipment, the screens and monitors flickering with static, adding to the tension that was palpable even through the television screen.

The climax of the show approached, with Octavio and his team setting up their final piece of equipment, a spirit box that claimed to communicate with the dead. As the static hissed, a voice, faint and forlorn, began to speak through the device. "Help me," it pleaded, sending a shiver down Eztli's spine. She clutched the remote, her thumb hovering over the volume button, tempted to crank it up to hear the ghostly voice more clearly, but fear kept her hand still.

The team's excitement grew to a fever pitch as the spirit's communication became more coherent. They asked questions, and the box replied with answers that sent chills down their spines. The words grew louder, more insistent. "Get out," it warned, the voice no longer a whisper, but a demand. Eztli felt a knot in her stomach tighten, a sense of dread creeping in.

She couldn't tear herself away from the screen. The show had reached its peak, and she had to know what would happen next.

When the episode ended, Eztli emerged from the living room, her cheeks flushed with excitement. "It was so cool, Mom!" she exclaimed. "Can we go do this again?"

Mom forced a smile, trying to hide her apprehension. "Let's get you to bed now, sweetheart. We can talk about it another time," she said, steering Eztli towards the hallway. She hoped the excitement would wear off quickly and her daughter would soon be lost in the realm of sleep, free from the clutches of the supernatural.

Once Eztli was tucked in and her door was closed, Mom took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering unease. She returned to the living room, now eerily silent except for the ticking of the grandfather clock. She glanced around, noticing how the shadows danced on the walls in the flickering glow of the TV.

A/N

Yohualli lotl- Dark land