Chapter 1
Leo San Juan had always known that the world others saw wasn't all that existed. For as long as he could remember, shadows seemed to move on their own, and whispers traveled along the walls, barely audible, as if the houses themselves wanted to speak to him. His classmates didn't understand why he sometimes froze in place, eyes fixed on nothing, and his mother could barely suppress a worried smile when she saw him suddenly go pale. But Leo knew the truth: he saw what others could not.
That afternoon, while playing in the backyard of his home in Puebla, a light breeze rustled the leaves of the trees, but there was something else—something he couldn't explain. A floating shadow, transparent yet human-shaped, appeared behind the old rose bush. His eyes widened in shock, and a chill ran down his spine. The shadow had no face, yet Leo felt its gaze pierce him. His heart raced so fast he feared it might burst from his chest. He wanted to scream, but his voice got stuck in his throat.
The spirit took a step toward him, and Leo stumbled backward. He tripped over a tree root and fell onto his back, rolling among the dry leaves. The figure lingered a few more seconds, floating silently, then vanished, as if it had never been there. Leo lay on the ground, breathing heavily, unable to move his hands. His mind tried to rationalize what had happened, but there was no explanation: it wasn't imagination, it wasn't a dream. It was real. He had seen it.
When he finally managed to stand, his legs still trembling, he hurried into the house, slamming the door behind him with a solid thud. His mother, waiting in the kitchen with a dish towel in hand, raised an eyebrow.
"What happened?" she asked, trying to keep her voice firm yet worried.
Leo took a deep breath, trying to regain calm.
"Nothing… just… the wind," he replied, knowing no other explanation would be accepted.
That night, the feeling of unease didn't leave him. Every shadow in his room seemed to move a little more than usual, and the whispers seemed to creep closer to his bed. Finally, unable to endure it any longer, he got up and went to the kitchen where his grandmother was preparing tea.
"Grandma…" he said, voice trembling, "there's something… out there. I saw it."
His grandmother, a woman with deep eyes and streaked hair, stared at him intently and sighed. She wasn't surprised; their family had possessed gifts like Leo's for generations.
"Leo…" she began softly but firmly, "what you see is called Cursed Energy. Mexico is full of it. Every fear, every legend, every rumor… can come to life if someone believes it."
Leo frowned, trying to understand.
"Cursed… energy? Like ghosts?"
She nodded.
"Yes, but not all spirits are evil. Some just seek company, others feed on your fear. And you… you have a special gift. You can see them, feel them, and maybe… someday, control them."
Leo swallowed hard. The idea of facing invisible beings was terrifying, but there was also something inside him that fascinated him. For years, he had sensed that the world hid secrets no one else could see. And now he knew he hadn't been wrong.
That same night, as he prepared for bed, Leo's mind kept replaying what had happened. He tried to cover himself with the blanket, as if that could protect him from the presences he had sensed, but a small chill ran down his spine. A barely audible whisper said his name, and he held his breath. "You are not alone," the voice seemed to murmur.
The next day, Leo went back to the yard. The shadow was gone, but his heart still pounded. He took a deep breath and scanned every corner of the garden, every branch, every stone. He felt something watching him, though he didn't know what or when it would appear again. His fear was immense, but so was his curiosity. He wanted to understand, to learn, and maybe, someday, to control what he saw.
Returning to the house, his brother Nando appeared, as always, with a mocking smile.
"Ghosts again?" he asked, dropping his backpack on the floor. "Can't you be normal for one day?"
Leo looked at him, annoyed by the teasing but grateful for the distraction. Nando was both a relief and a headache at the same time. Before he could respond, a small gleam appeared behind the patio window. Leo saw it immediately; Nando did not.
"There…," Leo whispered, pointing to the glow. "It's back."
Nando shrugged.
"Sure, it's your imagination, little brother."
But Leo knew the truth: it wasn't imagination. What he saw was real. And that night, as he lay down again, he realized something important: the world was much bigger, stranger, and more dangerous than anyone could imagine. And he was destined to see it, face it… and someday, control it.
With that certainty, he closed his eyes and, for the first time, decided he would no longer run from fear.