Joaquin, a curious young man who loved solving mysteries, stumbled upon this tree one dark night. The air felt eerie, and the branches seemed to reach out to him, pulling him closer. Joaquin wanted to run, but something kept him there—a feeling he couldn't shake.
Suddenly, a man emerged from the darkness. He wore old clothes and had a strange glow in his eyes. "I am Luis, the SK Kagawad of this place," he said in a ghostly voice.
Joaquin felt a chill run down his spine. Kagawads were local officials, but Luis seemed different—older and mysterious. His gaze felt like it could see right through Joaquin. "You're looking for answers," Luis said softly. "Answers that go beyond what you can see."
Joaquin nodded nervously. "What happened to the girl who was attacked here?" he asked.
Luis leaned closer, his breath cold on Joaquin's skin. "She trespassed where she shouldn't have," he whispered. "The balete tree guards ancient secrets, and those who disturb it pay a price."
Joaquin's brother, Andres, had disappeared after visiting the same tree. He was drawn to it by whispers of hidden knowledge. "What did you do to my brother?" Joaquin demanded.
Luis smiled in a way that sent shivers down Joaquin's spine. "Your brother is special," he said. "He has the gift to see things others can't. But gifts come with a price."
"He hypnotized him?" Joaquin blurted out.
Luis shook his head. "It's more than that," he replied. "I offered him power and knowledge. All he had to do was come into the shadows with me."
Joaquin remembered Maria, his classmate, saying Andres seemed enchanted that night. But Maria's warning had saved him. "He was under a spell," she had said. "Like a moth drawn to a flame."
But Andres had managed to break free and warned Joaquin not to trust Luis. Now, facing the SK Kagawad, Joaquin realized the truth. Luis was a collector of souls, making dark deals under the balete tree.
"Your brother got away," Luis hissed. "But the curse is still hungry for another victim."
Determined to save his brother and stop Luis, Joaquin left. But the balete tree whispered to him, tempting him with secrets of gods and forbidden knowledge.
As he walked away, Joaquin wondered if he was seeking answers or walking into a trap.