Chap 11

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Eztli, Peta, Konane and Rono were searching for each other in the maze of trees and bushes, they were holding stones in their hands. They shared a sense of confusion, unsure of where these stones had come from, yet instinctively choosing to keep them hidden in their pockets as they continued their search.

As Rono meandered through the rancho, his feet leading him closer to where Konane resided. Spotting Konane in the distance, Rono quickened his pace and called out to him, only to be met with the same question from Konane - "Where did you go?"

With a shared sense of bewilderment, Rono and Konane decided to head back towards Peta grandparent's house. However, as they reached the threshold of the house, a sudden, piercing scream shattered the tranquil atmosphere.

Eztli and Peta, who had been in a different part of the rancho, instantly hurried towards the source of the screams. Konane and Rono hearts raced with fear as they stumbled upon the eerie sight of a goat, its body riddled with inexplicable holes, oozing with crimson blood.

Their hearts pounding, their breaths ragged, Konane and Rono raced across the sprawling fields, their feet carrying them far away from the macabre spectacle. Finally, they found respite beneath the shade of an ancient palm tree, catching their breath and trying to make sense of what they had witnessed.

Shocked and frightened, the pairs of friends found themselves frozen in place, their minds reeling with the inexplicable horror before them. And then, in a sudden twist of fate, there was short-lived as a figure emerged from the shadows, an old man wielding a menacing machete, his eyes glinting with suspicion. With a sharp edge pointed between the boys' heads sharp edge glistening wickedly under the moon.

Before they could process the gravity of the situation, an elderly man emerged from the shadows, his weathered face etched with concern and suspicion. "Who are you, and what brings you to my rancho?" he demanded, his eyes darting between the bewildered youngsters. While Konane stood rooted to the spot, too overwhelmed to speak, Rono took a step forward, attempting to defuse the tension. "Wait, sir! I am a friend of Peta's; please, calm down. We mean no harm," he pleaded, his voice quivering slightly.

Just as the tension threatened to escalate, a soothing voice cut through the air as an elderly lady appeared, her presence casting a calming aura over the group. "Are you ready to drop that machete, old man? These youngsters are harmless; they know our granddaughter," she said, her tone soft yet firm.

With a rueful chuckle, the old man sheathed the machete, his initial suspicion giving way to amusement. "Hahaha, my apologies, young ones. A man's got to be cautious, you know. Hope I didn't startle you too much," he said, his tone now laced with laughter. Relieved, Konane finally found his voice. "Of course not, sir. We were just... caught off guard," he managed to say, his nerves still on edge from the encounter.

The old lady smiled warmly at the group. "So, muchachos, I hope you're feeling better now. But where is Peta? Has he run off somewhere?" she inquired.

Konane explained that Peta had gone in search of them when they hadn't returned home, her absence a cause for concern. Just then, Eztli and Peta emerged from the shadows, their expressions a mix of relief and curiosity.

Rono greeted them warmly, and as they settled down on a nearby rock, Peta couldn't help but ask, "Why were you screaming?"

Konane recounted the macabre sight of the mutilated goat and the unexpected confrontation with the old man, while Peta simply smirk off the mention of 'grandpa's antics'. As the group bantered and shared story, Eztli's analytical mind gravitated towards the mysterious goat.

Approaching the animal, Eztli examined the strange wounds with a critical eye. "It looks like it was attacked by an animal, but the lack of blood is puzzling. And these holes... they resemble burns," she mused aloud, her curiosity piqued.

The old man, who had been observing Eztli's observations quietly, spoke up. "In the past few weeks, we've seen several of our beloved animals meet a similar fate," he revealed, a tinge of sorrow in his voice. "We've searched tirelessly but in vain. Our workers can't stay out late anymore, fearing this unseen threat."

The old lady nodded in agreement; her eyes clouded with worry. "If this continues, we might lose the rancho, our livelihood. Each incident brings us closer to a grim reality," she said, her voice tinged with sadness.

Peta's grandfather

The thing who made the holes in the goat.

P.S

Hello readers! I am excited to share with you all about my book that delves into the realms of the supernatural, and the paranormal. In the upcoming chapters of my book, you can expect to find a combination of some thrilling gore and psychological elements that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It will add somewhat gore, horror, and violence I will not make it in more tense, I will have it in the level in between in the middle.