
Success had arrived for Keila Gómez and Héctor Ruíz. Their channel of investigations on paranormal sightings exceeded two hundred thousand subscribers and continued to grow. The last videos posted on the platform had surpassed five hundred thousand views in less than a week, and their followers were demanding more.
Keila Gómez was a twenty-six year old young woman who had studied sociology and anthropology, but for economic reasons had not been able to finish her studies. Since she was a child, her hobby had always been to get involved in those tense situations involving the paranormal. Her passion for this was so great that she was not afraid to experiment and had participated in many occult and myth and ghost hunting sessions.
Her boyfriend, Héctor Ruiz, a young man in his early twenties, was a computer geek and a big fan of audiovisual editing software. The two met years ago, when Keila was in her first year of sociology and anthropology. Together they had created and founded the video channel “Paranormal Activity, Myths and Legends”, which had proved successful, in which Keila's passion for this type of activity was complemented by Hector's skills, something that his followers appreciated in the quality of his deliveries.
-My love! Come, we have surpassed two hundred thousand subscribers. -Hector said with enthusiasm, to tell the news to his girlfriend Keila.
-It's incredible, honey! I didn't think we were going to be successful. -Keila replied to the great news.
-But that's not the only thing! There's even more. Our latest video at the cemetery is about to reach six hundred thousand views, and it has over a hundred thousand likes. I can hardly believe it. -Hector admitted.
-I told you, my love! You realize that there are many who like to watch this kind of content. -Keila exclaimed, while hugging Hector.
-I guess you already have something else in mind for our followers? -asked Hector.
-Well, yes. But I'm not sure, my love. -Keila answered.
-What is it, my love? It's the first time I've heard you say something like that. Tell me to see what it's about? -Hector asked again.
-On the outskirts of the city there is a factory that has been abandoned for many years. There are many testimonies about the presence of entities, and all the stories are creepy. -Keila said.
-Are you talking about the old liquor factory? -said Hector.
-Yes, my love. I'm talking about that very factory. There are many things that are said about the place, and they also mention disappearances of people... and well, that makes me doubt a little bit. -Keila answered.
-That site seems ideal to me, love. It is very likely that we will find some manifestations there, given the incident in which those employees died. -Hector answered.
-I know, my love. But it wasn't one or two who died there. There were many, and that will surely make that place charged with many bad energies... I don't know, I think I'd better investigate about a sighting that is easier to document. -Keila opined.
-Come on, my love. They don't look like your stuff. What can go wrong? We'll end up going to that site at some point. Let's do it this time. What if it turns out to be true? Can you imagine a million views in less than a week? Think big, my love. -said Hector to persuade Keila.
-All right, my love! But the first situation that gets out of control, we'll run out of there and we won't come back. Do you promise? -asked Keila.
Keila was usually very keen on investigating paranormal sightings, but for some inexplicable reason, beyond her own comprehension, she was not attracted to the place. Deep down, she knew that the chances of encountering something beyond her limits and knowledge were latent. There were many souls that could be grieving there, and just thinking about it made her skin crawl. Even so, she wanted to be brave and accept Hector's proposal, given the great possibility of reaping a new success.
-Don't worry, my love! I'll be there with you to take care of you, and I promise that if it gets too strange, we'll leave and we won't come back for anything in the world. -Hector replied.
In the days that followed, Hector, with this new project in mind, prepared himself with all the equipment he deemed necessary to capture any details of paranormal activity in the old factory. These included cameras, microphones, motion sensors and multiple flashlights, everything necessary to go along with this feat. Karla, for her part, focused on thoroughly investigating the events related to the incident at the factory; and no matter how hard she searched and scrutinized, she could only find the article that was more than fifteen years old, published in a discontinued local newspaper. It mentioned the mysterious disappearance of six plant workers, whose bodies had never been located. The article highlighted the testimony of two employees, belonging to the shift of the unfortunate missing workers, who alleged and attributed the disappearance of their co-workers to a mysterious and paranormal entity, without revealing many details about it. However, despite her attempts to gather information, this was the only thing Keila could locate. All that remained was to try to find these two witnesses and ask them what she wanted to know personally.
Keila, although she asked around and looked for addresses, was never able to find the whereabouts of these people. However, during that search, she managed to catch the attention of an old woman named Yalitza, who revealed a few things.
-Daughter, those people you are looking for also mysteriously disappeared a few years later. Since then, no one has heard from them. -Yalitza commented.
-It's strange, Mrs. Yalitza. No matter how hard I try to find out what really happened in that factory, I can't get anything. -said Keila.
-And what are you looking for with that, daughter? -asked Yalitza.
-The truth is that my boyfriend and I are dedicated to documenting all kinds of paranormal activity, and I understand that many strange things happen in the old factory that are within our interests. That's the reason. -Keila replied.
-Daughter, I'll give you some advice and I hope you'll take it for your own good: stay away from that factory. There is nothing good there, and believe me, everything you have heard about that place is true. That place is cursed and very dangerous. Sometimes, it's better to leave still, what is still. -Yalitza advised.
-I appreciate your advice, Mrs. Yalitza, but this is what I am dedicated to. Thank you for the information. -said Keila.
Keila, despite Yalitza's advice, did not give up or back down. Although she told her boyfriend Hector everything, they both decided to continue with the project. They agreed to visit the old factory on Friday; success awaited them.
Once they arrived that day, in the evening hours, they loaded the necessary equipment into the vehicle, but strangely enough, the first inexplicable incident occurred: the vehicle's engine did not start, and everything seemed to be in order. This situation, although unusual, went unnoticed by Keila and Hector, and was not associated with the factory. Unbeknownst to them, something beyond their comprehension was standing in the way of their going there, but, unfortunately, they ended up ignoring that warning of fate.
On Saturday morning, Hector performed a mechanical check on the vehicle's engine and the result was not as expected, he found nothing to cause the failure and everything was in order. When he started the engine, it roared as if it had just left the factory. Although this seemed strange to him, he finally decided not to give it any importance.
In the evening hours, both Keila and Hector boarded the vehicle again and, this time, everything went smoothly. Hector drove out of town through a narrow road that was almost entirely swallowed by vegetation. The drive to the old factory took about thirty minutes and, along the way, the dense fog, together with the thick vegetation, made Hector drive very cautiously and carefully, given the poor visibility. Upon reaching the place where the old factory was located, the fog strangely dissipated, something that caught the attention of our hunters of paranormal activities; however, they were not there to doubt, but to move forward.
The old liquor factory was right in front of them. Its structure was composed of several buildings with brick and concrete facades, which were very deteriorated due to the notorious state of abandonment; a victim of the passage of time. The exterior walls were stained and chipped, revealing a chaotic state of erosion. These buildings had numerous windows, most of them broken, and others that were completely empty, as if they were hollow eye sockets through which one could see the dark and desolate interior of these facilities. Along the facades, some graffiti could be seen contrasting with the dull and faded tones of the factory; a bit of contemporary art, reflected on the walls of these abandoned facilities. The atmosphere in the place felt heavy and mysterious.
-Are you sure you want to come in? -asked Hector to Keila, while at the same time he took the backpack with his equipment.
-Yes, my love. That's what we came for. Let's do this and see what mysteries are hidden here once and for all. -Keila answered confidently.
Hector nodded, and then turned on his camera and began to document. Immediately, both began the journey into the factory, entering the place very cautiously through a half-open metal entrance. As soon as they crossed the entrance, the atmosphere changed drastically. The temperature inside the place was several degrees below that which existed outside, and both Keila and Hector felt a chill numbing their fingers and lips, to the point that their breathing was visible as they exhaled the air from their lungs; a clear sign that foreshadowed the type of activity they were pursuing. A sense of nervousness quickly took hold of them; it was the first time they had been so exposed to the unknown.
Keila recited a short speech she had memorized, while Hector recorded every detail; just an opener for his audience. After finishing those words, Hector noticed a sudden shadow moving behind Keila.
-Turn around! Behind you. -Hector shouted.
Keila turned quickly and saw him. The shadow disappeared down a dark hallway, leaving her speechless.
-Did you see it? -asked Hector, astonished.
-Yes, my love, I saw it,“ replied Keila, as she felt her skin crawl at her own words, ”Tell me what you recorded it? -he then asked.
-I got it all on tape! -answered Hector.
The interior of the abandoned factory showed a marked deterioration, and its atmosphere was even heavier and gloomy. The space was large, with a structure of metal beams supporting part of the roof, as well as an upper floor. The floor, a total disaster, was covered with dirt, debris and dust. The air there was permeated by an intense smell of dampness. To the sides, there were long corridors, one on the left and one on the right, leading to unknown areas. It was in the corridor on the right that Keila and Hector observed the silhouette enter before it was lost in the dense darkness.
-Give me a flashlight. -Keila asked.
-Are you sure you want to go after that shadow? -asked Hector.
-I'm a little scared of it. But, by all means, let's go after it and explore that area. -Keila answered.
Hector handed the flashlight to Keila and followed behind her, recording every step they took. She shone the flashlight down the long corridor and, in the background, another silhouette came into view, which was quickly hidden in the blink of an eye.
-Did you see that? -asked Keila.
-Yes, of course I did. Let's continue. -Hector answered.
Keila entered the long corridor while Hector followed her closely with his camera. After a few steps, suddenly her flashlight suddenly went out and Keila stopped. Everything before her eyes went dark, like the deepest black her eyes had ever seen, without a trace of light.
Keila flicked her flashlight twice with her hand and tried to turn it back on, but the bulb wouldn't light.
-Give me another flashlight. This one's batteries are dead. -said Keila.
-Wait, I'll give it to you. -Hector answered, and then took another flashlight from his backpack.
-Take it! -said Hector, handing the other flashlight to Keila.
She took the flashlight and flicked the switch to turn on the spotlight. The hallway lit up again and they both continued on. After a few steps, that flashlight also stopped illuminating.
-It can't be! -Keila exclaimed, frustrated.
Once again, she flicked the flashlight with her hand and then flicked the switch. This time, the flashlight came on, and as it illuminated the hallway, the dark silhouette of a faceless man stood directly in front of her, and a mixture of fascination and fear came over her. A new and rapid drop in temperature occurred immediately, and this time, the cold that previously prickled her skin she felt it penetrate to her bones. A deep silence took over the atmosphere, while Keila and Hector, immobile and trembling, panic-stricken, were unable to make any movement or articulate any words.
The silhouette approached Keila in a sudden movement, and suddenly, a deafening scream came from the lips of its non-existent face, which made both Keila and Hector react from their momentary paralysis and set off in a swift race to get out of the abandoned factory. They had escaped.
They finally managed to successfully document that paranormal manifestation; however, the cost was high and the psychological trauma of that moment left serious after-effects for Keila and Hector, which resulted in many nights of nightmares and insomnia, which later turned into an uncontainable fear of such activities. Although the video was a success and surpassed one million views, it was the last one they made and, after a few months, their channel,
“Actividad paranormal, mitos y leyendas”, ended up disappearing together with the desire to carry out new adventures of this type.
Spanish
El precio del éxito.
El éxito había llegado para Keila Gómez y Héctor Ruíz. Su canal de investigaciones sobre avistamientos paranormales superaba los doscientos mil suscriptores y seguía en ascenso. Los últimos videos publicados en la plataforma habían superado en menos de una semana las quinientas mil vistas, y sus seguidores demandaban más.
Keila Gómez era una joven de veintiséis años, que había cursado estudios en sociología y antropología, pero por razones económicas no había podido concluir. Desde niña, su hobby siempre fue involucrarse en aquellas situaciones cargadas de tensión que involucraban lo paranormal. Era tanta su pasión por esto que no le daba miedo experimentar y había participado en muchas sesiones de ocultismo y cacería de mitos y fantasmas.
Su novio, Héctor Ruiz, un joven de veinticinco años, era alguien a quien le encantaba la informática y un gran fanático del software de edición audiovisual. Ambos se conocieron años atrás, cuando Keila cursaba su primer año de sociología y antropología. Juntos habían creado y fundado el canal de vídeos “Actividad paranormal, mitos y leyendas”, que había resultado exitoso, en el que la pasión de Keila por este tipo de actividades se complementaba con las habilidades de Héctor, algo que sus seguidores apreciaban en la calidad de sus entregas.
—¡Mi amor! Ven. Hemos superado los doscientos mil suscriptores. —dijo Héctor con entusiasmo, para comunicarle la noticia a su novia Keila.
—¡Es increíble, cariño! No pensé que fuéramos a tener éxito. —contestó Keila ante la gran noticia.
—¡Pero eso no es lo único! Aún hay más. Nuestro último video en el cementerio está por llegar a las seiscientas mil vistas, y además tiene más de cien mil me gusta. Me cuesta creerlo. —admitió Héctor.
—¡Te lo dije, mi amor! Te das cuenta de que hay muchos a los que les gusta mirar este tipo de contenido. —exclamó Keila, mientras abrazada a Héctor.
—¿Y ahora qué sigue? ¿Supongo que ya tienes algo más en mente para nuestros seguidores? —preguntó Héctor.
—Bueno, si. Pero no estoy segura, mi amor. —respondió Keila.
—¿Qué pasa, mi amor? Es la primera vez que te escucho decir algo así. ¿Cuéntame para ver de qué se trata? —preguntó Héctor nuevamente.
—En las afueras de la ciudad hay una fabrica abandonada desde hace muchos años. Hay muchos testimonios sobre la presencia de entidades, y todos los relatos son espeluznantes. —dijo Keila.
—¿Hablas de la antigua fábrica de licores? —indagó Héctor.
—Si, mi amor. Hablo precisamente de esa fábrica. Son muchas las cosas que se dicen del lugar y también se mencionan desapariciones de personas… y bueno, eso me hace dudar un poco. —respondió Keila.
—Ese sitio me parece ideal, amor. Es muy probable que allí encontremos algunas manifestaciones, dado al incidente en el que murieron aquellos empleados. —contestó Héctor.
—Lo sé, mi amor. Pero no fueron uno ni dos los que murieron allí. Fueron muchos, y eso seguramente hará que ese lugar esté cargado de muchas malas energías… No sé, creo que mejor investigo sobre un avistamiento más sencillo de documentar. —opinó Keila.
—Vamos, mi amor. No parecen cosas tuyas. ¿Que puede salir mal? En algún momento terminaremos acudiendo a ese sitio. Hagámoslo está vez. ¿Y si resulta cierto todo lo que cuentan? ¿Te imaginas un millón de vistas en menos de una semana? Piensa en grande, mi amor. —dijo Héctor para persuadir a Keila.
—!Está bien, mi amor! Pero a la primera situación que se salga de control, saldremos corriendo de allí y no volveremos. ¿Me lo prometes? —preguntó Keila.
Keila, por lo general, era muy entusiasta al momento de investigar algún avistamiento paranormal, pero por algún motivo inexplicable, fuera de su propia comprensión, no se sentía atraída hacia ese lugar. En el fondo, sabía que las probabilidades de encontrarse con algo más allá de sus límites y conocimientos estaba latente. Eran muchas las almas que allí podrían estar penando, y con solo pensarlo se le erizaba la piel. Aún así, quiso ser valiente y aceptar la propuesta de Héctor, ante la gran posibilidad de cosechar un nuevo éxito.
—¡No te preocupes, mi amor! Yo estaré allí contigo para cuidarte, y te prometo que si se torna muy extraño, nos vamos y no volvemos por nada del mundo. —contestó Héctor.
En los días siguientes, Héctor, con ese nuevo proyecto en mente, se preparó con todos los equipos que consideró necesarios para captar cualquier detalle de actividad paranormal en la vieja fábrica. Estos incluían cámaras, micrófonos, sensores de movimiento y múltiples linternas, todo lo necesario para ir trad de esa proeza. Karla, por su parte, se enfocó en investigar a fondo los acontecimientos relacionados con el incidente ocurrido en la fábrica; y por más que busco y escudriño, sólo pudo encontrar el artículo que databa de más de quince años de antigüedad, publicado en un periódico local descontinuado. En él se mencionaba la desaparición misteriosa de seis obreros de la planta, cuyos cuerpos jamás habían sido localizados. El artículo destacaba el testimonio de dos empleados, pertenecientes al turno de los infortunados desaparecidos, quienes alegaban y atribuían la desaparición de sus compañeros a una entidad misteriosa y paranormal, sin revelar muchos detalles al respecto. Sin embargo, a pesar de sus intentos de recabar información, esto era lo único que Keila pudo localizar. Solo le quedaba intentar hallar a esos dos testigos y preguntarles lo que deseaba saber personalmente.
Keila, aunque preguntó y buscó direcciones, jamás logró dar con el paradero de esas personas. Sin embargo, durante esa búsqueda, logró captar la atención de una anciana llamada Yalitza, quien reveló algunas cosas.
—Hija, esas personas que estás buscando también desaparecieron misteriosamente algunos años después. Desde entonces, nadie ha sabido nada de ellos. —comentó Yalitza.
—Es extraño, señora Yalitza. Por más que intento averiguar qué fue lo que realmente ocurrió en esa fábrica, no logro conseguir nada. —dijo Keila.
—¿Y que buscas con eso, hija? —preguntó Yalitza.
—La verdad es que mi novio y yo nos dedicamos a documentar todo tipo de actividad paranormal, y tengo entendido que en la vieja fábrica ocurren muchas cosas extrañas que están dentro de nuestros intereses. Ese es el motivo. —contestó Keila.
—Hija, te daré un consejo y espero que lo tomes por tu propio bien: alejate de esa fábrica. No hay nada bueno allí, y créeme, todo lo que hayas oído sobre ese lugar es cierto. Ese sitio está maldito y es muy peligroso. A veces, es mejor dejar quieto, lo que está quieto. —aconsejó Yalitza.
—Agradezco su consejo, señora Yalitza, pero a esto me dedicó. Grácias por la información. —dijo Keila.
Keila, a pesar de los consejos de la señora Yalitza, no desistió ni dió marcha atrás. Aunque le contó todo a su novio Héctor, ambos decidieron continuar con el proyecto. Acordaron visitar la vieja fábrica el día viernes; el éxito les aguardaba.
Una vez llegado ese día, en horas de la noche, embarcaron los equipos necesarios en el vehículo, pero extrañamente ocurrió el primer incidente inexplicable: el motor del vehículo no encendió, y todo parecía estar en orden. Esta situación, aunque inusual, pasó desapercibida para Keila y Héctor, y no fue asociada con la fábrica. Sin saberlo, algo que estaba más allá de su comprensión se interponía en su camino a ese lugar, pero, lamentablemente, terminaron ignorando aquella advertencia del destino.
El sábado por la mañana, Héctor realizó una revisión mecánica en el motor del vehículo y el resultado no fue el esperado, no encontró nada que produjera la falla y todo se hallaba en orden. Al momento de encender el motor, esté rugió como si fuera recién salido de fábrica. Aunque aquello le pareció extraño, finalmente optó por no darle importancia.
Ya en horas de la noche, tanto Keila cómo Héctor se embarcaron nuevamente en el vehículo y, está vez, todo funcionó con normalidad. Héctor condujo fuera de la ciudad a través de una carretera estrecha que ya casi era tragada por la vegetación en su totalidad. El recorrido hasta la vieja fábrica tardó alrededor de treinta minutos y, durante el trayecto, la densa neblina, junto a la espesa vegetación, hicieron que Héctor condujera con mucha cautela y precaución, dada la poca visibilidad. Al llegar al lugar donde se hallaba la vieja fábrica, extrañamente la neblina se disipó, algo que llamó mucho la atención de nuestros cazadores de actividades paranormales; sin embargo, no estaban allí para dudar, sino para seguir adelante.
La vieja fábrica de licores se encontraba justo frente a ellos. Su estructura estaba compuesta por varios edificios con fachadas de ladrillo y concreto, que se notaban muy deterioradas ante el notorio estado de abandono; víctima del paso del tiempo. Las paredes exteriores, se hallaban manchadas y desconchadas, revelando un caótico estado de erosión. Esos edificios, presentaban numerosas ventanas, en su mayoría rotas, y otras que estaban completamente vacías, como si fueran unas cuencas oculares huecas a través de las cuales se podía ver el interior oscuro y desolado de esas instalaciones. A lo largo de las fachadas, se visualizaban algunos grafitis que contrastan con los tonos opacos y descoloridos de la fábrica; un poco de arte contemporáneo, reflejado en las paredes de esas instalaciones abandonadas. La atmósfera en el lugar, se sentía pesada y misteriosa.
—¡Ya estamos aquí! ¿Segura que quieres entrar? —preguntó Héctor a Keila, mientras al mismo tiempo cogía la mochila con sus equipos.
—Si, mi amor. A eso vinimos. Hagamos esto y veamos que misterios se esconden aquí de una vez por todas. —respondió Keila con mucha seguridad.
Héctor asintió, y luego encendió su camara y comenzó a documentar. Inmediatamente, ambos iniciaron el recorrido hacia el interior de la fábrica, adentrándose en el lugar con mucha cautela a través de una entrada metálica semiabierta. Apenas cruzaron aquella entrada, el ambiente cambió drásticamente. La temperatura dentro del lugar era varios grados por debajo de la que existía en el exterior, y tanto Keila como Héctor sintieron un frío que les entumecía los dedos y los labios, al punto que su respiración era visible al exhalar el aire de sus pulmones; una clara señal que presagiaba el tipo de actividad que estaban persiguiendo. Una sensación de nerviosismo se apoderó rápidamente de ellos; era la primera vez que se veían tan expuestos a lo desconocido.
Keila recitó un pequeño discurso que había memorizado, mientras Héctor grababa cada detalle; solo un abrebocas para su audiencia. Tras culminar aquellas palabras, Héctor notó una repentina sombra que se movió detrás de Keila.
—¡Voltea! Detrás de tí. —gritó Héctor.
Keila volteo rápidamente y lo vio. La sombra se perdió a través de un pasillo oscuro, dejándola boquiabierta.
—¿Lo viste? —preguntó Héctor, asombrado.
—Si, mi amor. ¡Lo ví!—respondió Keila, mientras sentía cómo su piel se erizaba ante sus propias palabras— ¿Dime qué lo grabaste? —preguntó luego.
—¡Lo tengo todo grabado! —respondió Héctor.
En el interior de esa fábrica abandonada evidenciaba el marcado deterioro, y su atmósfera, era aún mas pesada y sombría. El espacio era amplio y en el se apreciaba una estructura de vigas metálicas que sostenían parte del techo, así como también una planta superior. El piso, un desastre total, se hallaba cubierto de suciedad, escombros y polvo. El aire que allí se respiraba, se hallaba impregnado por un intenso olor a humedad. A los lados, habían largos pasillos, uno a la izquierda y otro a la derecha, los cuales conducían a áreas desconocidas. En el pasillo de la derecha, fue donde Keila y Héctor observaron la silueta penetrar, antes de perderse en la densa oscuridad.
—Dame una linterna. —pidio Keila.
—¿Segura que quieres ir tras esa sombra? —preguntó Héctor.
—Me da un poco de miedo. Pero, por supuesto, vayamos tras ella y exploremos esa área. —contestó Keila.
Héctor le entregó la linterna a Keila y siguió detrás de ella, grabando cada paso que daban. Ella alumbró con la linterna el largo pasillo y, en el fondo, se visualizó otra silueta, que rápidamente se ocultó en un abrir y cerrar de ojos.
—¿Viste eso? —preguntó Keila.
—Si, claro que sí. Continuemos. —respondió Héctor.
Keila se interno en el largo pasillo mientras Héctor la seguía muy de cerca con su camara. Después de dar algunos pasos, repentinamente el foco de su linterna se apagó y Keila se detuvo. Todo ante sus ojos quedó a oscuras, como el negro más intenso que sus ojos hubieran visto, sin un pequeño rastro de luz.
Keila le dió dos golpes con la mano a su linterna y trató de encenderla nuevamente, pero el foco no se iluminó.
—Dame otra linterna. Las baterías de esta se agotaron. —dijo Keila.
—Espera, ya te la doy. —respondió Héctor, y luego tomó otra linterna dentro de su mochila.
—¡Toma! —dijo Héctor, entregando la otra linterna a Keila.
Ella tomó la linterna y pulsó el interruptor para encender el foco. El pasillo nuevamente se iluminó y ambos continuaron. Después de algunos pasos, esa linterna también dejó de iluminar.
—¡No puede ser! —exclamó Keila, frustrada.
Una vez más, le dió unos golpes con la mano a la linterna y luego pulsó el interruptor. Está vez, la linterna encendió y, al iluminar el pasillo, la oscura silueta de un hombre sin rostro estaba parado justo enfrente de ella, y una mezcla de fascinación y temor la invadieron. Un nuevo y rápido descenso en la temperatura ocurrió de forma inmediata, y está vez, el frío que antes le erizaba la piel lo sintió penetrar hasta los huesos. Un silencio profundo se apoderó del ambiente, mientras Keila y Héctor, inmóviles y temblorosos, presas del pánico, eran incapaces de hacer ningún movimiento o de articular palabras.
La silueta se acercó a Keila en un movimiento brusco, y repentinamente, un grito ensordecedor salió de los labios de su inexistente rostro, lo cual hizo que tanto Keila como Héctor reaccionarán de su parálisis momentánea y emprendieran una veloz carrera hasta salir de las instalaciones de esa fábrica abandonada. Habían logrado escapar.
Ellos finalmente lograron documentar con éxito aquella manifestación paranormal; sin embargo, el costo fue elevado y el trauma psicológico de ese momento dejó graves secuelas para Keila y Héctor, que derivaron en muchas noches de pesadillas e insomnio, que luego se transformaron en un miedo incontenible ante ese tipo de actividades. Aunque el vídeo resultó un éxito y superó el millón de vistas, fue el último que hicieron y, luego de unos meses, su canal, “Actividad paranormal, mitos y leyendas”, terminó desapareciendo junto al deseo de realizar nuevas aventuras de ese tipo.
Original story written in Latin Spanish, translated for InkTheWell with DeepL.com (free version).
Illustrative image generated with AI.

A native tale says that he who says there is no fear has never been where one is dished.
What a horrific experience I must say.
The suspense employed by the author is intact as well.
Good one.
This story is over 2300 words long. The curation team tries to get to all stories, and sometimes we don't because there are only a few of us and there are many stories. We ask authors to write pieces that are between 750 and 1000 words in length, with a maximum of 1500 words. Refer to the prompt post.
We appreciate your enthusiasm for writing, but simply do not have the resources to read stories of this length. Thank you.
Greetings @theinkwell.
After reading the comment, I was simply shocked, disappointed after the bucket of cold water. It took me a few moments to react, thinking between shutting up or replying. Indeed, the publication guidelines in its numeral 7, mention that the stories should contain a range between a minimum of 750 words and a maximum of 1500 words, but does not specify that it is mandatory not to exceed that amount, but on the contrary also mentions that longer stories are also fine, although they have a tendency to have fewer readers, and also expresses that it is appreciated to respect the length for better time management, which is not clear if it is something clearly limiting.
Sometimes writing stories that contain good introductory elements, character development, conflict arc development, and conflict resolution in order to immerse the reader in an interesting read simply takes more than 1,500 words. Although stories can be simplified so as not to exceed that amount, it makes it, in my opinion, a bit more difficult to successfully address some of the descriptive and sensory elements that serve to enrich the story. Not to mention that also writing a story, reading it again, making corrections and, in my case, translating it, and then publishing it, takes time and effort; maybe others find it easier and simpler, but not necessarily, it is the same for everyone.
In spite of this, I feel grateful. I can say that I have learned a lot thanks to you, as I follow the tips, conditions, rules and guidelines of the many posts for writing stories that you have published; they are very good and have given me a teaching that has helped me a lot. But hey, healing is not mandatory, because in the end, when you give a vote, you give it to who you want to give it to without obligation; a universal right.
I apologize for this rejoinder, and also for my enthusiasm in writing and bringing to this community a story that does not fit into time management. An editing tip or a recommendation to keep the stories within that margin would have been easier for me to digest, although I know that sometimes the most demanding teachers tend to be like that.
The biggest thing you could do to chop your word count is to stop with the redundancies. The bulk of the information in the opening three paragraphs of text is implied or outright stated in the text after it. This happens quite a few times throughout the work.