The Forbidden Archive could not contain the explosion.
Darkness and crimson light collided in the air—raw, ancient magic battling the overwhelming force of El Oscuro's power.
The stone floor cracked beneath Emiliano and Daniela's floating bodies.
Their eyes glowed a deep red, reflecting the swirling pages of El Libro del Silencio, now spinning like a cyclone between them.
Ixchel shielded her face from the blast as black flames tore through the chamber.
"EMILIANO! DANIELA!" she shouted, voice drowned under the roar. "THE RITUAL IS STARTING—YOU HAVE TO CONTROL IT!"
But neither of them could move.
Their bodies hung suspended in the air—paralyzed, trapped, shaking violently as the Book pulled ancient runes from its pages into their minds.
Daniela's scream ripped through the archive.
"IT HURTS—EMI, IT HURTS!"
Emiliano clenched his teeth, sweat dripping down his face.
"I KNOW—I KNOW—JUST HOLD ON!"
The Book's magic poured into their marks, burning like fire searing their skin from the inside.
A glowing red circle appeared beneath them, carved into the stone by light, dripping with symbols that pulsed like veins.
Ixchel's eyes widened.
"No… this isn't the Twin Mark Ritual… not yet…"
She swallowed hard.
"This is the preparation. The Bonding Seal."
El Oscuro spread his arms wide, absorbing the black flames into his chest.
His monstrous form grew larger—horns expanding, shadow-wings unfolding behind him like dark smoke.
He stepped forward, each footstep shaking the earth.
And he spoke.
"Al fin…"
At last…
"los sacrificios se unen."
the sacrifices bind together.
Daniela's eyes widened with horror.
"EMI—HE WANTS THIS—THE RITUAL IS WHAT HE WANTS!"
Emiliano fought against the force pulling at his bones.
"I don't CARE what he wants—WE'RE BREAKING THIS CURSE!"
The Book resonated—deep and ancient—like a bell ringing across a dead world.
Its pages stopped spinning.
One page glowed.
A sigil appeared in burning red ink.
THE SEAL OF BLOOD AND SHADOWS
"Only through unity of soul and sacrifice may the Marked awaken their strength."
"Blood to bind, shadow to command."
Daniela gasped. "Blood?! Emi—what does that mean?!"
Emiliano didn't get to answer.
Suddenly—
SLASH!
El Oscuro's massive claw cut through the air.
Ixchel jumped forward.
"NO—DON'T LET HIM INTERRUPT THE RITUAL—!"
She was too late.
The shadow-wave slammed into the circle.
The air warped.
A shockwave hurled all three of them backward—
But the circle held.
The ritual DID NOT break.
The magic twisted violently, forcing Emiliano and Daniela back toward the center.
Daniela cried out as the circle's runes carved themselves deeper into the stone.
"IT'S FORCING US—IT'S PULLING US BACK!"
Emiliano roared with pain as the sigil burned itself into his chest.
"El libro—no—ME VA A MATAR—!"
Ixchel screamed over the thunderous chaos:
"DON'T RESIST IT—LET IT FINISH—IF YOU BREAK IT NOW IT'LL RIP YOUR SOULS APART!"
El Oscuro laughed.
A deep, bone-crushing, monstrous laugh.
"Luchen… resistan…
de cualquier forma…
serán míos."
Fight… resist…
either way…
you will be mine.
Daniela trembled violently.
"Tía… Tía Valeria… por favor… ayúdame…"
Her aunt's ghost did not come.
But something else DID.
A second shadow entered the chamber—
taller than a human—
thin limbs—
glowing eyes.
One of the Watchers.
Then a second.
Then a third.
Daniela screamed. "THE THREE WATCHERS—THEY'RE BACK—!"
Ixchel grabbed her amulet and pushed herself to her feet.
"I'LL HOLD THEM BACK—FOCUS ON THE SEAL!"
Daniela sobbed. "IXCHEL—YOU'LL DIE—"
"I'D RATHER DIE THAN BE THEIR FEAST!"
She slammed the amulet to the ground.
A sphere of blue light erupted outward, forming a protective circle.
The Watchers shrieked as the blue barrier cut into their shadows.
El Oscuro roared, his voice rumbling through the entire foundation.
"IXCHEL…
amante de la Luz Antigua…
muere."
Ixchel spat blood.
"You first, demon."
2. The Seal Tightens
Inside the glowing ritual circle, Emiliano and Daniela floated higher into the air.
Their marks glowed brighter—synchronizing.
Beat by beat.
Pulse by pulse.
Soul by soul.
The Book of Silence hovered between them, pages turning rapidly.
Daniela's voice shook.
"Emi… can you feel it… it's inside us… it's doing something to us—"
Emiliano grit his teeth.
"I know—just stay with me—Dani PLEASE stay with me—!"
Their fingers reached for each other—
Then the circle EXPLODED with crimson chains of energy.
The chains wrapped around both of them.
Binding their arms.
Binding their chests.
Binding their MARKS.
Daniela screamed.
"IT'S PULLING MY SOUL—EMI—EMI—HELP ME—!"
Emiliano roared in agony as the chains burned through his shirt, searing into his heart.
"I'M HERE—DON'T LET GO—!"
"I'M TRYING—EMI—EMI—!!"
Their fingertips finally touched—
And the chains locked together.
The ritual slammed into its final phase.
A deep voice echoed from the Book itself:
"THE MARKED ARE ONE."
"THE SEAL IS FORGED."
A blinding red light exploded outward—
consuming the entire archive.
Ixchel shielded herself with her arm.
"El Oscuro—HE'S TRYING TO STOP IT—!"
But the demon's attack was obliterated by the shockwave.
He staggered backward.
For the first time—
El Oscuro looked confused.
Not afraid.
Not defeated.
Just… surprised.
Emiliano and Daniela floated slowly to the ground as the chains dissolved into glowing dust.
Their marks pulsed in unison.
Daniela collapsed into Emiliano's arms.
Her breath shook. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Emi… what happened to us…?"
He held her tightly, trembling.
"I don't know. But I think the book linked us. Our souls… our strength."
She nodded weakly.
"El Oscuro… he can't control us anymore…"
But Ixchel looked terrified.
"No," she whispered.
"You don't understand."
She stepped toward them.
Her voice shaking.
"The Seal of Blood and Shadows… it didn't just bind you."
She paused.
"It awakened something inside you."
Daniela blinked slowly.
"Awakened… what?"
Ixchel swallowed hard.
"Your powers."
Emiliano froze.
"What powers?! We're just normal kids!"
Ixchel shook her head violently.
"No. You were NEVER normal. The mark chose you for a reason. And now the ritual has unlocked the abilities buried in your bloodline."
Daniela's breath caught.
"I… I feel strange…"
Emiliano looked at his hands.
"I feel like… like something is inside me…"
Ixchel nodded.
"Sí. And you'll need those powers for what's coming."
She pointed behind them.
"To face HIM."
They turned—
And El Oscuro stepped forward through the fading dust.
For the first time, he looked directly at Emiliano and Daniela.
Not with hunger.
Not with rage.
But with calculation.
"Así que… han despertado."
So… you have awakened.
Daniela squeezed Emiliano's hand.
"Emi… I'm scared."
El Oscuro raised both clawed hands—
And the Watchers flanked him on either side.
Their eyes glowing like dying moons.
El Oscuro's voice twisted with dark amusement:
"Now…
the hunt truly begins."
The Book of Silence closed itself.
The ritual faded.
And the floor beneath them cracked open.
The archive began to collapse.
Ixchel screamed:
"RUN—NOW—THE ENTIRE CHAMBER IS FALLING—GO, GO, GO—!"
Stone pillars snapped.
Flames erupted upward.
The ceiling crumbled.
And El Oscuro advanced through the destruction—
slow, unstoppable—
like death itself.
Emiliano grabbed Daniela's hand.
"MOVE!"
Daniela nodded.
"I'm with you—GO!"
And together—
with the Book in their arms—
they ran.
Not knowing if they would survive.
Not knowing if the Seal would save them.
Only knowing—
The darkest hour
was yet to come.
The Forbidden Archive cracked like an egg under the force of El Oscuro's presence.
Stone pillars shattered.
Shelves collapsed.
Blue fire surged out of broken lanterns.
The ground buckled beneath Emiliano's feet.
"RUN!" Ixchel screamed over the roar of crumbling stone.
The Watchers screeched behind El Oscuro, their elongated arms scraping the ground as they lunged forward in unnatural, jerky movements.
Daniela clutched the Book tightly to her chest as she and Emiliano sprinted across the tilting floor.
"DON'T DROP THE BOOK!" Ixchel shouted. "IF IT BREAKS THE SPELL RESETS!"
Daniela's eyes were wet with terror.
"I WON'T—I WON'T—JUST KEEP GOING, EMI!"
The floor split open behind them, swallowing shelves and ancient scrolls into a bottomless pit of swirling shadows. El Oscuro's footsteps echoed like the heartbeat of a dying planet.
THOOM.
THOOM.
THOOM.
His shadow expanded, stretching like tar across the collapsing ground.
"HE'S CATCHING UP—EMI—RUN FASTER!" Daniela yelled.
"I'M TRYING!" Emiliano shouted back.
They skidded around a falling pillar as dust and debris exploded around them.
Ixchel charged ahead, her amulet sputtering sparks of blue light.
"This way!" she shouted, pointing toward a narrow corridor that slanted upward.
Emiliano grabbed Daniela's hand.
"LET'S GO!"
They dashed into the passage just as El Oscuro swung one massive arm. A shockwave hit the tunnel entrance, detonating the stone around it.
The tunnel seal slammed shut behind them, throwing all three teens forward.
Silence.
Dark, suffocating silence.
Daniela coughed violently.
"Emi… are you okay…?"
He pushed himself up, dust coating his face and hair.
"I—I think so…"
Ixchel groaned, holding her ribs.
"That barrier won't hold him for long. We need to move before he breaks in."
Daniela held up the Book of Silence, trembling.
"Where do we go now?"
Ixchel pointed forward.
"To the upper tunnels. They lead back to the main school. We have to get above ground."
Emiliano frowned.
"Above ground? Why?"
"Because," Ixchel answered, "your awakened powers will only work where your spirits are strongest—under the sky. Not buried underground."
Daniela's eyes widened.
"Wait… awakened powers? What does that even MEAN?"
Ixchel turned and lifted the glowing amulet near Daniela's mark.
Daniela's skin reddened—glowing faintly.
"You have spiritual sensitivity. Energy manipulation. I'm not sure which ability will manifest yet… but I know one thing."
She turned to Emiliano.
"And you, Emi… your mark is brighter than hers. That means your ability will be stronger."
Emiliano blinked.
"Stronger? What ability?"
Ixchel hesitated.
"Shadow harmonia."
Daniela's jaw dropped.
"Shadow… what?!"
"It's the rarest of the Marked powers," Ixchel said. "The ability to bend shadow to your will… or let it consume you."
Daniela clutched Emiliano's shirt.
"Emi—be careful. That sounds dangerous."
He nodded slowly.
"I'll handle it. Whatever it is—I'll handle it."
Ixchel continued.
"But remember… El Oscuro and his Watchers are made of shadow. And the more powerful you become… the more you attract them."
Emiliano's stomach flipped.
"So having powers makes them want me more?"
"Exactly."
Suddenly—
the wall behind them cracked.
A giant black claw tore through the stone.
Daniela screamed.
"HE FOUND US!"
The tunnel shook violently.
El Oscuro's voice rumbled:
"SALGAN…"
Come out…
"mis sacrificios…"
my sacrifices…
The teens sprinted up the tunnel as massive claws ripped apart the stone behind them.
2. The Chase Through the Upper Tunnels
The tunnel narrowed and twisted like a maze.
Old pipes burst overhead.
Steam hissed onto their faces.
Ixchel glanced back.
"HE'S MOVING FASTER THAN BEFORE! KEEP RUNNING!"
A Watcher appeared behind El Oscuro—its limbs stretching unnaturally as it crawled along the tunnel ceiling like a giant spider.
Daniela shrieked.
"EMI—ONE OF THEM—!!"
Emiliano grabbed her hand and pulled her forward.
"DON'T LOOK BACK!"
But he looked.
And the Watcher's eyes met his.
White.
Void-like.
Burning.
A blast of shadow shot from its mouth like a spear.
"WATCH OUT—!" Ixchel cried.
Emiliano shoved Daniela out of the way—
and the shadow spear struck Emiliano in the chest.
BOOOOM—!
He flew backward into a stone wall.
"EMI!" Daniela screamed.
He hit the ground hard, gasping in pain.
Ixchel whirled around.
"GET UP! IF YOU STAY DOWN IT'LL TAKE YOUR SOUL!"
Emiliano's vision blurred.
The Watcher crawled toward him, claws extending—
Daniela rushed forward.
"NO—STAY AWAY FROM HIM!"
"DANIELA DON'T—!" Ixchel shouted.
Too late.
Daniela placed her hands over Emiliano's chest.
Her mark glowed—
And the Watcher recoiled.
"What—?" Daniela gasped.
Ixchel froze.
"Dani… you awakened your first ability."
Daniela blinked.
"What ability?"
"Purification energy."
Daniela's hands glowed brighter.
The Watcher hissed and backed away, its shadow limbs shriveling.
"YOU CAN HURT THEM!" Emiliano choked.
Daniela's eyes filled with tears of fear and shock.
"I—I didn't know—I just wanted to protect you—"
Ixchel grabbed her shoulder.
"That's EXACTLY how powers awaken—through emotion. Fear. Will. Love. You must control it now!"
Daniela nodded and held her glowing hands toward the Watcher.
"STAY AWAY FROM HIM!"
The Watcher shrieked as light slammed into its face.
It stumbled backward—
right into El Oscuro.
The demon shoved it aside and roared:
"BASTA."
ENOUGH.
The tunnel shook violently as El Oscuro rammed both arms into the path ahead of them.
The stone ceiling collapsed—
blocking the exit.
"No—NO—THERE'S NO WAY OUT!" Daniela cried.
Ixchel gritted her teeth.
"There is. Follow me!"
She pointed to a narrow crevice in the wall.
"We'll crawl through—GO!"
The teens squeezed into the crack just as El Oscuro's massive claws tore down the tunnel, scraping inches from their feet.
Emiliano gasped.
"That was too close—!"
Daniela screamed as a claw nearly pierced the gap.
Ixchel grabbed the Book, shoved it forward, and yelled:
"MOVE—NOW!"
3. The Upper Chambers
The narrow crack opened into a large, dusty cell-like chamber with barred windows overhead.
Moonlight filtered in, casting pale shadows on the walls.
Daniela collapsed to the floor, shaking uncontrollably.
"Emi… I can't… I can't keep running…"
Emiliano hugged her tightly.
"Dani… you saved my life back there."
She trembled in his arms.
"I didn't know I could do that…"
"I know," he murmured. "But you did. And you were amazing."
Ixchel leaned against a pillar, breathing heavily.
"El Oscuro can't fit through that crack—not yet. We bought a little time."
Daniela looked upward.
"What is this place?"
Ixchel answered:
"One of the original sacrificial holding chambers. The priests kept the chosen locked here before the ritual."
Daniela swallowed painfully.
"People were kept down here… waiting to die?"
Ixchel nodded.
"Yes. And now… we're using their prison to survive."
Suddenly—
the ground shook.
El Oscuro's claws slammed into the outer wall.
Dust poured from the ceiling.
Emiliano helped Daniela stand.
"We need a plan. A REAL one."
Ixchel held up the Book.
"We have one. The Twin Mark Seal."
Daniela wiped her tears.
"How does it work?"
Ixchel opened the Book of Silence.
The pages flipped on their own, stopping on a ritual written in blood-red ink.
Ritual of Soul Unity
"Two marked souls must channel their awakened powers in synchrony."
"One commands shadow."
"One commands light."
"Together they may sever the Dark One's bond."
Daniela exhaled sharply.
"Emi is shadow… I'm light…"
Ixchel nodded.
"You're opposites. Complementary forces."
Emiliano frowned.
"So together we can weaken him?"
"Yes," Ixchel said. "But the ritual needs a catalyst."
Daniela tensed.
"What kind of catalyst?"
Ixchel closed the Book slowly.
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"Blood."
Daniela stepped back.
"No—NO—I'm tired of blood—I'm tired of these rituals—"
Ixchel grabbed her shoulders.
"Dani… Emilio… this is the only way. One drop from each of you… into the same mark."
Daniela shook.
"Emi… I can't…"
El Oscuro roared on the other side of the wall.
Stone cracked violently.
Ixchel shouted:
"YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO BE AFRAID—DO IT NOW!"
Emiliano took Daniela's trembling hands.
"Dani… look at me."
She looked up at him, tears welling.
"We're still alive," he said softly. "You and me. And we're going to stay alive. But we do it together. Like always."
She sniffed.
"Together…"
"Always," he finished.
Daniela nodded with trembling determination.
"Okay. Do it."
Ixchel handed them her ritual dagger—small, silver, glowing softly.
"Just a cut," she instructed. "Over your marks."
Emiliano nodded, breathing deeply.
He lifted the blade.
"This is nothing," he said gently. "We've been through worse."
Daniela nodded and held her mark near his.
"Okay. One… two…"
They cut.
Blood dripped.
The marks reacted instantly—
Flaring red—
Then merging into one glowing symbol.
A powerful blast of energy lit up the chamber.
Ixchel's eyes widened.
"You DID it—YOU ACTIVATED THE RITUAL—!"
El Oscuro tore through the wall.
"¡AAAAAHHHHH!"
His scream shook the earth.
Emiliano and Daniela turned toward him—
Their eyes glowing bright red and bright white.
And for the first time ever—
El Oscuro stepped back.
Afraid.