A Haunting in Hialeah Gardens by Raul Palma

Author:Raul Palma [Palma, Raul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2023-10-03T00:00:00+00:00

10

As he listened to Alexi’s story, Hugo was quite sure that the haunting was the result of something between remorse and watching The Muppet Christmas Carol one too many times. This had to be the case. Here was a grown man, a miser by all accounts, alluding to chains and ghosts. As far as Hugo could tell, Claudia was correct. What Alexi needed wasn’t una limpieza—he needed to make some time to speak with a professional. He needed meds, too. And maybe he needed to stop reading Carlos Eire. That nostalgia stuff really rots the mind. But Hugo wasn’t going to say any of that. He was there to do his job, to have his debt forgiven. He felt for the attorney, just a little.

Alexi must have sensed his ill humor and disbelief because he took Hugo by the arm, and he said, “I’m not making this up!” And he led him to other spaces in the home where manifestations had occurred. By that point, Hugo wasn’t really paying attention anymore. He’d gotten what he needed, quite certain now that the law firm would play into whatever solution he proposed. He was touring the stairwell, holding back a yawn, when he did see something. It was a figure shrouded in white. It shuffled off when he noticed, and it spooked him good. It must have been Dulce, he thought. She was sneaking around to listen in, but even this awareness brought him no peace.

“You sensed something, didn’t you?” Alexi asked.

Hugo shook his head.

“Just tell me. I want to know.”

“It’s nothing, really. It’s late. That’s all.”

“No. You saw one of them, right? Should we go upstairs?” Alexi asked, but it wasn’t a question. He put his hand on Hugo’s back and guided him up one creak of a step at a time.

Already, Hugo sensed a shift in atmosphere. It was cooler, for starters, and he had this irrational fear growing in him that something would jump out and scare him, just like in the films: Boom! Aaah! Hugo wanted to leave, but how could he—with Alexi behind him, shoving him along?

Upstairs, there was a long hallway, and at the very end, a door slightly ajar. It felt like a trap. Hugo had seen enough scary movies with Meli to know: If there was a demon in that house, that door would be the bait. The best course of action would be to turn around and leave—to forget the deal and everything. But this was no scary movie! Or it wasn’t until Alexi noticed the door, too. “Coño,” he said. “Is that? God! Do you see that? I never use that room.” His fear was infectious.

“Try to remain calm,” Hugo said, as if to himself. “Tell me. What’s the room used for?”

“That’s just it. Nothing. Claudia wants to make it an exercise room. It’s small.”

“Well then, case closed. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

But Alexi insisted that Hugo lead the way, so he did, one short step at a time.

Hugo could feel the air in the hall grow colder.

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