Chapter 7: The Paranormal Investigators
Agnes and Milo had been partners in the Paranormal Investigators Guild for nearly a decade. They had seen their fair share of ghosts, poltergeists, and other supernatural phenomena. But when word of the Pasatsat reached their headquarters, it piqued their interest like never before. The tale of a vengeful spirit wreaking havoc on the city of San Gabriel was too intriguing to ignore.
Sitting in their cluttered office filled with equipment and stacks of case files, Agnes held up a newspaper clipping about the Pasatsat. "This is our next case, Milo," she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Milo glanced up from his laptop, adjusting his glasses. "The Pasatsat? That old legend? I thought it was just a myth."
"Not according to this," Agnes replied, tapping the article. "There's been a resurgence of sightings and incidents. People are genuinely terrified."
Milo leaned back in his chair, thoughtful. "What do you think? Angry spirit, or mass hysteria?"
"Only one way to find out," Agnes said with a grin. "We need to go to San Gabriel and investigate."
---
The drive to San Gabriel was filled with anticipation. The city, with its old-world charm and narrow streets, looked peaceful under the bright morning sun. But beneath that tranquility, there was an undercurrent of fear, a lingering tension that was palpable.
Agnes and Milo's first stop was the local library, where they hoped to dig deeper into the history of the Pasatsat. They were greeted by an elderly librarian named Mrs. Valdez, who seemed both intrigued and wary of their quest.
"You want to know about the Pasatsat?" Mrs. Valdez asked, her voice a whisper. "It's not just a story, you know. Many have seen it, felt its presence."
Agnes nodded. "That's why we're here. We need to understand its origins and why it's resurfacing now."
Mrs. Valdez led them to a secluded section of the library filled with old records and dusty books. "This is where you'll find the history of our city," she said, pointing to a shelf. "Be careful. Some things are better left alone."
As they sifted through the records, Agnes found an old journal belonging to a man named Father Francisco, who had been a priest in San Gabriel during the time of Emilio, the healer who became the Pasatsat.
"Listen to this," Agnes said, reading an entry aloud. "'The villagers, driven by fear and superstition, turned against Emilio, our healer and protector. In their desperation, they condemned him as a witch and burned him at the stake. His last words were a curse upon those who wronged him.'"
Milo frowned. "So the Pasatsat is Emilio's vengeful spirit. But why is it so active now?"
Agnes turned the page and continued reading. "'His spirit has appeared at times of great unrest, when the balance between the living and the dead is disturbed. It seeks justice, but its anger blinds it to the innocence of those it haunts.'"
"We need to find out what's causing the unrest," Milo said. "Something must have disturbed the balance recently."
---
Their next stop was Isabel's home. Isabel had reluctantly agreed to meet with the investigators, hoping they might offer some insight into the terrifying ordeal she had endured.
"Thank you for seeing us," Agnes said as they sat in Isabel's cozy living room. "We understand you've been through a lot."
Isabel nodded, her face pale but composed. "I just want to protect my daughter. If you can help, I'll tell you everything."
Agnes listened intently as Isabel recounted the Pasatsat's appearance and her subsequent encounter with Father Mateo. Milo took detailed notes, occasionally glancing up to ask a question.
"Is there any history of supernatural activity in your family?" Milo asked. "Anything that might have triggered the Pasatsat's return?"
Isabel hesitated. "My great-great-grandmother was involved in the events that led to Emilio's death. Father Mateo said it might be why the Pasatsat targeted us."
Agnes leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. "We believe the Pasatsat is seeking justice for the wrongs done to Emilio. But there's something more. We need to find out what disturbed the balance."
"Father Mateo mentioned a lost shrine," Isabel said. "We found it and offered an apology. It seemed to appease the spirit, but only temporarily."
Agnes and Milo exchanged a glance. "We need to visit this shrine," Milo said. "There might be clues there."
Isabel agreed to guide them to the shrine, hoping they might discover something she had missed.
---
The forest was dense and foreboding as they made their way to the clearing where the shrine stood. The air was thick with the scent of pine and earth, and the silence was almost oppressive.
"This is it," Isabel said, her voice barely a whisper. "This is where we offered our apology."
Agnes and Milo approached the ancient stone altar, their eyes scanning the area for any signs of disturbance. Milo knelt down, examining the ground around the shrine.
"Look at this," he said, pointing to a series of strange symbols etched into the stone. "These markings are recent. Someone's been here."
Agnes frowned. "Could it be a ritual? Maybe someone tried to summon the Pasatsat?"
Isabel's eyes widened. "Father Mateo did mention something about a dark ritual that could awaken spirits."
"Let's document these symbols and see if we can find any references to them in our research," Milo suggested, pulling out his camera.
As they worked, the forest seemed to grow darker, the air colder. Agnes couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. She glanced around, her eyes narrowing as she caught a glimpse of movement in the shadows.
"Did you see that?" she whispered to Milo, who was still engrossed in his work.
He looked up, following her gaze. "What did you see?"
"Something—someone—watching us," Agnes said, her voice tense. "We need to be careful."
Isabel shivered. "I don't like this. We should leave."
"Just a little longer," Milo said, snapping a few more pictures. "We need to make sure we have everything."
Suddenly, a chilling wind swept through the clearing, extinguishing their lanterns. The Pasatsat materialized before them, its red eyes glowing with fury.
"You dare to disturb my rest?" it hissed, its voice echoing through the trees.
Agnes stepped forward, her voice steady. "We seek to understand why you haunt this place. We want to help you find peace."
The Pasatsat's form flickered, its anger palpable. "Peace? There can be no peace. The wrongs done to me can never be undone."
"But revenge won't bring you peace either," Agnes said, her voice filled with compassion. "Let us help you. Tell us what you need."
The Pasatsat seemed to waver, torn between its anger and a deeper, unspoken sorrow. "The debt must be paid," it whispered. "But I am tired. So tired."
Milo stepped forward, his voice gentle. "We know about the ritual. Someone has disturbed the balance. If we find out who did it, we can help set things right."
The Pasatsat's eyes dimmed, its form becoming less defined. "Find the one who awakened me. They seek to use my anger for their own ends."
"Do you know who it is?" Agnes asked, her heart pounding.
The Pasatsat shook its head, its form flickering. "I only know the darkness. It follows them. Beware."
With that, the Pasatsat vanished, leaving the clearing silent and cold. Agnes and Milo exchanged a glance, the weight of the task ahead settling on their shoulders.
"We need to find out who performed the ritual," Milo said, packing up their equipment. "Someone in San Gabriel is using the Pasatsat for their own purposes."
Isabel nodded, her face pale but determined. "I'll help in any way I can. We have to stop this."
---
Back in San Gabriel, Agnes and Milo poured over their research, trying to identify the symbols they had found at the shrine. They cross-referenced their findings with local records and legends, hoping to uncover the identity of the person behind the ritual.
After hours of searching, Milo finally found a match. "Agnes, look at this," he said, pointing to a passage in an old tome. "These symbols are part of a dark summoning ritual used to bind spirits to a particular place."
Agnes read the passage, her eyes narrowing. "It says here that the ritual can only be performed by someone with a deep knowledge of the occult. Someone with a personal connection to the spirit."
"Who in San Gabriel fits that description?" Milo wondered aloud.
Isabel, who had been listening quietly, spoke up. "There is one person. A man named Carlos, a self-proclaimed medium. He moved to San Gabriel recently and has been gaining a reputation for his... unusual practices."
Agnes nodded. "We need to talk to Carlos. If he's behind the ritual, we have to stop him."
---
Carlos lived in a small, dilapidated house on the outskirts of San Gabriel. The windows were covered with heavy drapes, and the air around the house felt thick and oppressive.
Agnes knocked on the door, her heart pounding. After a moment, the door creaked open, and a tall, gaunt man with piercing eyes stood before them.
"Can I help you?" Carlos asked, his voice smooth and untrustworthy.