Random Titlan: Spooky Chase (In hiatus)/latina

Chap 39

꒷꒦︶꒷꒦ ⋆｡˚ ☁︎ ꒷꒦︶꒷꒦☁︎ ⋆｡˚☽ ꒷꒦︶꒷꒦

𒄆───────˚｡⋆˚ ☪︎˚⋆｡˚──────𒄆

The truck rumbled down winding jungle paths beneath a star-splashed sky. In the bed, the rescued workers leaned on one another getting dropped off.

Last to be dropped off was Antonio.

His wife, Mrs. Ruiz, stood waiting outside their small home, arms crossed, eyes red from worry. When she saw him, her face broke, first with disbelief, then joy. Antonio stumbled toward her, dazed, still unsure of where he had been—but her arms wrapped around him before he could speak.

She looked past him and met Zacil's eyes.

"Thank you," Mrs. Ruiz said, voice shaking. "For bringing him back. For all of them. People were starting to believe it was some curse. That they were gone for good."

Zacil gave a small smile, her expression unreadable in the moonlight. "It wasn't a curse. Just... old magic."

Zacil only nodded, her expression distant. "It was just ghosts," she murmured.

As they drove back through the sleeping villages, Teófilo kept his hands on the wheel, guiding the truck with practiced calm. The road was dark, silent but for the gentle growl of the engine.

He glanced sideways at Zacil, who stared out into the jungle, her face unreadable.

"You think they'll be alright?" he asked.

She didn't answer right away. Then, finally, she sighed. "I don't know."

The words lingered in the cab like mist.

Teófilo scratched his chin. "Well... I've got an idea."

The Next Morning

Birdsong and the scent of fried plantains filled the morning air. The teenagers—Konane, Rono, Peta, and Eztli—woke in Zacil's hut, 

It swung open before anyone could move—and there stood Antonio... with a sheepish smile... and behind him, several of the formerly kidnapped workers.

The teenagers exchanged glances, surprise flickering across their faces before settling into quiet understanding. Their time here had come to an end.

As they prepared to leave, they turned to Zacil and her family, gratitude shining in their eyes. "Thank you," Eztli said. "For everything. For letting us stay in your rancho, for sharing your home with us."

Zacil simply nodded, but before you go. 

Thank you," Eztli said. "For everything. For the roof, the food.

Zacil nodded slowly, then raised a hand as they turned to go.

"But before you leave," she said, "be careful. The world isn't always so kind. There are worse things than chaneques out there."

Peta tilted her head. "Worse like...?"

Zacil gave a vague shrug. "you will see them for yourselves."

Rono's House

Rono sat up in bed, the glow of his tablet still lighting his face. He'd been researching sound frequencies when a faint tap-tap-tap came from the window.

He paused, logic kicking in. "Bird? Tree branch?" he whispered.

But then came the creak of the floorboard. Inside.