The Amante Curse

"You found a box?"

Lauren fully stood by her earlier thought as she look out at the view from her balcony, Cuba truly was a good idea. She'd danced the nights away to reggeton, met so many kind hearted people and was just surrounded by her family's culture, which was like a home away from home. She had eight hours until she had to leave again, to go back to the chaos and she couldn't help but feel sad. Lauren knew that Cuba benefitted her but to part so soon, even though part of her begged to extend her stay, she knew she couldn't because of one simple fact. That being Dinah Jane Hansen, and their apartment. As much as Lauren loved the girl to bits, she wanted to go home to an in shape apartment rather than a pile of ash because Dinah left the stove on again. However, Lauren bargained with herself to have one last trip to the coast, to get one last look. So, she packed all her essientials and left her hotel room.

When Lauren next rested was when she laid back in the Cuban sand, far away from any person. Her surroundings were a huge cliff behind her; which looked to be at least twenty feet high. To her right were some more boulders and her left was the rest of the coast. She didn't exactly understand why she wanted to sit in this spot, but she deemed the urge to be because she wanted to be alone in her final hours upon Cuban soil. Surprisingly enough, Lauren hadn't thought of Damien once. She hadn't woken up in cold sweat as she previously dreamt of his hands on her again. She hadn't looked over her shoulder whenever she turnt a corner, in fear that Damien lurked there. She definiately hadn't pondered what she did wrong to make him that way. Lauren knew now that she didn't need to be scared, or paranoid and certainly didn't need to be insecure about herself.

Damien Micheal was dead. He couldn't hurt her anymore.

Lauren looked up into the sky in bliss, she wished she could pause time and live in this current moment. The sun shining down on her, the wind blowing lightly and everything seemed just...right. That was until she caught sight of a wooden plaque. It was so out of place on the stoney cliffside, Lauren wondered how she didn't spot it before. It looked old, the wood was practically crumbling but there was clear writing on it. Lauren stood up and walked toward the plaque, curious to read what it said, though that left her with more questions than answers.

Seis pies abajo, coloca algo que deseaste que permanecieras en la arena. Para ti es una maldición, para ellos es una invitación a caminar entre nosotros de nuevo. Lauren's spanish was a bit rusty but she gathered that something was buried six feet below her. She took a photo of the plaque and began digging. She did'nt understand what possessed her to dig, all she knew was that whatever was hidden needed to be found.After what felt like hours of labour, Lauren fingers brushed a bumpy surface. With glee on her sweaty face, Lauren hauled the object out of the hole and was confused to see a box in her hands. It was the size of her head and was coated in dark wax which sealed the box shut, and strands of rope that was also waxed down but also held in place a wooden cross. The box itself was a creme colour beneath all the melted burgandy and red wax, it looked as though it had two different compartments. Lauren tried to pry open the box but to no avail; it wouldn't budge. Looking at the time on her phone, Lauren cursed under her breath. Time to leave the Cuban paradise. As she packed up her things, Lauren looked back at the box she left in the sand and picked it up and put it in her bag. She can try open it when she's home.

Hours later, when Lauren was on the plane she couldn't help but remember the box she had dug up. She wanted to know why it was there, what the plaque said and definately what was inside. When she was examining it previously, she could hear objects moving around inside and it sounded like whatever it was was quite fragile. Lauren wanted answers about the box, and she could only think to consult her friend Lucy Vives. Lucy knew a lot about Cuba and its culture as she had lived there before she moved back to Puerto Rico some years ago. Lauren thought that if anyone knew about this mysterious box, Lucy might just shed some light. It had been some time since the two last spoke, so Lauren had to use Instagram to talk with her.

laurenjauregui: Hey Lucia, long time no see.

lucyvives: Look who decided to finally decided to crawl out of her shell!

laurenjauregui: Good to see that you still have that annoying ass humour.

lucyvives: Seriously though, how are you. I heard about your ex.

laurenjauregui: Wow, news even reaches Puerto Rico, But I'm better.

lucyvives: Sending you all the virtual hugs I have to offer.

laurenjauregui: Anyway, I sort of need your insight.

lucyvives: Lauren Michelle, you're coming to me for help? Damn and I thought pigs couldn't fly.

laurenjauregui: Okay fuck off.

lucyvives: I'm kidding but what is it you need?

laurenjauregui: What do you know about a box that was buried in the coast?

lucyvives: Que?

laurenjauregui: I found a box that was buried six feet down in the sand.

lucyvives: You found a box?

laurenjauregui: But there was this plaque above it and I only knew bits of what it said. So, I'm gonna send you the text and I need the translation.

lucyvives: Okay???

laurenjauregui: Seis pies abajo, coloca algo que deseaste que permanecieras en la arena. Para ti es una maldición, para ellos es una invitación a caminar entre nosotros de nuevo.

lucyvives: Six feet down, lay something you wished remain in the sand. To you its a curse, to them, its an invitation to walk amongst us again.

lucyvives: Lauren, what the fuck did you dig up?

laurenjauregui: I don't know. It was just a box coated in wax. Look I'll send a picture.

lucyvives: Are you fucking insane? Do you have any idea what you've done Laur?

laurenjauregui: I have no idea Luce, tell me what the fuck I found.

lucyvives: Whatever you do, don't ever open that box Lauren. I'm telling you now nothing good comes from opening a box like that.

laurenjauregui: A box like that?

lucyvives: Lauren, you've dug up a fucking Dybbuk Box.

Oooo Lauren done fucked up😁

And for those who don't know what a Dybbuk Box is, wait till the next chapter to find out or look it up yourself but if you know what it is, then please send prayers "🙏🏼" in the comments for Lauren's soul🤣

Lucy Vives