Chapter 1

The door clicked shut with a soft thud, muffling the raucous sounds of the family party. The chatter and laughter of aunts and uncles, the clinking of bottles, and the light strains of ranchera music faded into a quiet hum as Maria and Lucia stepped out into the cool evening air.

“So, what’s the plan?” Maria asked, her voice light but tinged with uncertainty. She tugged absently at the hem of her fitted tank top, feeling a slight flutter in her trim stomach that had everything to do with the joint she was about to take. Her trim waist cinched in just below her modest chest, and though she was slender, her proportions gave her a subtle, womanly shape—a body that looked both youthful and mature at once despite being newly 22. She’d always been the one who fit the mold: the golden child, the pretty one, the one who had it all together.

Lucia, on the other hand, was a contrast in both size and personality. At 25, she was the oldest of all the siblings, but despite the age gap, she and Maria had always been close. Her figure was full, her curves soft and undeniably confident. She had a more generous frame, but she wore it well. Lucia was unbothered by society’s standards, embracing her body with a go-with-the-flow attitude that Maria admired. Her confidence was as wide as her hips, and when she tossed her hair back, her thick frame radiated with a relaxed, easy beauty.

“The plan?” Lucia smirked, glancing back at Maria with a playful gleam in her eyes. “To get lit, chica. Out here, where no one’s judging you for, you know, breathing.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a small, neatly rolled joint, flicking it between her fingers with practiced ease.

Maria hesitated, looking down the quiet street as though waiting for something or someone to stop her. She could almost hear her mom’s voice calling her back, even though she knew no one was there. The flutter in her stomach grew—a mix of nervous energy and anticipation.

“I don’t know… I’m down to drink but I’m one for sneaking off like… this,” Maria admitted.

Lucia raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. “Since when? You’ve got the perfect ‘good girl’ act down. One little joint isn’t gonna change that.”

Maria rolled her eyes, but the smile that tugged at her lips couldn’t be hidden. “You’re impossible.”

“You’re just too uptight,” Lucia shot back, pausing under a flickering streetlamp as she lit the joint. She knew her cousin had a rebellious streak, even if she acted like she was so innocent. The tip glowed orange, and the smoke lazily curled around her, a stark contrast to her effortless cool. She passed it to Maria, her fingers brushing hers, as though it was the most natural thing in the world.

Maria hesitated for a moment, staring at the joint in her hand. She wasn’t sure if it was the right move, but something about the way Lucia acted—so at ease with herself—made Maria second-guess herself. With a deep breath, she inhaled, the smoke filling her lungs, making her throat tighten. She coughed slightly, her eyes watering, but Lucia’s light laughter soothed the sting, making her feel more at ease than she had in a long time.

“Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it,” Lucia said, slinging an arm casually around Maria’s shoulders as they continued their walk.

As they rounded the corner, Maria’s peace was interrupted by a voice—shouting from down the block.

“Hey! Wait up!” Sofia’s voice was loud, eager, cutting through the quiet night air. The 19-year-old came sprinting toward them, her thin frame practically bouncing with excitement. “I’m not missing out on whatever this is!”

Maria groaned, rolling her eyes as she turned toward her sister. Sofia was already close enough now for the familiar, youthful energy to be impossible to ignore—skin pale and almost childlike, her long, straight hair pulled into a loose ponytail. “Sofia, seriously? You’re way too young for this,” Maria called out, crossing her arms. “You’re gonna get us both in trouble.”

Sofia shot her a mischievous grin, her hands resting on her hips. “I’m practically an adult, Maria. Besides, I’m not gonna let you guys have all the fun.”

Maria shot her a disapproving look. “You’re 19, Sofia. You’re still a kid.”

Sofia stuck her tongue out playfully, then looked over at Lucia, her eyes bright with defiance. “Come on, Lucia! You know I can handle it.” She raised an eyebrow, throwing a glance at the joint in Lucia’s hand. “I bet I could take a hit without coughing like Maria did.”

Lucia chuckled, watching the playful back-and-forth unfold. She leaned against the lamppost with her usual laid-back demeanor, completely unfazed. “Listen, Sofia,” she said calmly, her tone smooth and persuasive. “You’re not gonna miss anything by heading back. We’ll catch up another time. But tonight’s just not your moment. We’re keeping things low-key, y’know?”

Sofia crossed her arms, clearly not ready to back down. “But—”

“Sofia,” Lucia said, cutting her off. “Trust me. I’m not saying never. But tonight, you go back, and next time, we’ll make it a party.”

Sofia’s pout was almost comically exaggerated. She hesitated, her gaze flicking from Lucia’s calm expression to Maria’s more wary one. Maria gave her a pointed look, and Sofia sighed dramatically. “Fine, fine. But this isn’t over,” she grumbled, turning on her heel to march back down the street.

“See you later, sis,” Maria called after her, her voice softening just slightly as Sofia shot her one last look of rebellion.

Lucia waited until Sofia had disappeared back into the dim street before taking another drag from her joint. She passed it to Maria, a knowing smile playing on her lips. “She’s not going to let that go.”

Maria rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the quiet laugh that escaped her. “She’s so dramatic. I swear, it’s like she thinks she’s the oldest one in the family.”

“Eh, she’ll get over it.” Lucia grinned, nudging her with her elbow.

The street was quiet, the kind of quiet that hangs heavy, like the world’s holding its breath. The flickering streetlamp cast long, stretching shadows as Lucia took the final drag of the joint, exhaling a thick plume of smoke that curled into the cool night air. Maria wrinkled her nose, waving a hand in front of her face. “Ugh, we reek. If we go back smelling like this, Tía Rosa’s gonna flip.”
Lucia smirked, grinding the joint out against the bottom of her sandal before tucking it into a small tin. “Relax, prima. We’ll air out. Besides, check it out—” She pointed ahead, where a dimly lit storefront glowed faintly between two dark buildings. The sign above the door read The Mystic Gains Exchange in ornate, crooked letters. The windows were fogged with dust, but through the grime, they could make out the silhouette of strange objects—antique dolls, mismatched furniture, and what looked like an old arcade cabinet.
“Since when is this here?” Maria asked, squinting in suspicion.
“No idea,” Lucia replied, already stepping toward the door with that familiar swagger. “But I’m gonna find out.”
Maria hesitated, glancing back toward the safety of the familiar street. “Lucia, we don’t even know if it’s open, it’s late. And we smell like a dispensary.”
Lucia shot her a sideways grin. “So what? It’s probably just some old guy runnin’ the place. He won’t care.” She pushed the door open with a creak, a bell jingling faintly overhead. The scent of dust and aged wood mixed with the lingering herbal aroma that still clung to them. Maria sighed, knowing there was no talking Lucia out of something once her mind was made up. She followed her inside.
The shop was a maze of narrow aisles, crammed floor to ceiling with oddities that seemed to defy categorization. There were vintage radios stacked next to porcelain dolls with cracked faces, shelves of yellowed books leaning against rusted tools, and glass cases filled with trinkets that glinted in the dim light. The air was thick, weighted with the smell of time, like the shop had been frozen in place for decades.
Lucia immediately began weaving through the aisles, her wide hips brushing against shelves and sending small objects teetering dangerously. Maria trailed behind, her slim frame slipping through the narrow spaces with ease. She couldn’t resist teasing her cousin as Lucia tried to squeeze past a particularly cluttered section.
“Careful, gordita,” Maria teased with a playful grin. “You’re gonna knock down the whole shelf if you’re not careful.”
Lucia shot her a mock glare over her shoulder. “Oh, shut it, flaca. Not all of us can be built like a stick.”
Maria laughed, dodging as Lucia playfully swatted at her. “I’m just sayin’, maybe lay off the tamales for a bit. You’re gonna need a map to get through this place.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Lucia muttered, though she was smiling. She paused in front of a shelf filled with old video games, her eyes lighting up when she spotted a familiar logo. “Hey, look! This is the same brand as that game I got at the flea market.”
Maria leaned in, squinting at the dusty cartridges. “Weird. This place is like a time capsule. Who even buys this stuff?”
“Me, apparently,” Lucia said, already pulling a few games off the shelf to inspect them. “This one looks cool. And this one. Oh, and—” She turned, bumping into another shelf, her hips knocking a stack of old magazines to the floor with a crash. “Oops.”
Maria burst out laughing. “I swear, you’re like a bull in a china shop. How do you even fit through these aisles?”
“Very carefully,” Lucia replied, bending down to pick up the magazines. Her movements were awkward, her larger frame making it harder than it needed to be. Maria watched with amusement, leaning against a nearby shelf.
“You know, if you keep this up, you’re gonna have to start doing your shopping online. Or maybe a store with like, extra-wide aisles for you.”
Lucia straightened up, tossing the magazines back onto the shelf with a huff. “You’re hilarious, you know that? Keep it up, and I’ll sit on you.”
Maria held up her hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay, I’ll stop. For now.”
As they continued to explore, the shop seemed to get darker, the shadows deepening around them. The air felt heavier too, like the weight of all the strange objects was pressing in. Maria couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched, though every time she glanced around, there was no one there—just the endless rows of curiosities, waiting silently in the dim light.

“Seriously, is there anyone here?” Maria asked as she craned her neck around to look for signs of life.
The counter was empty, no shopkeeper in sight. A vintage cash register sat gathering dust, its keys yellowed with age. Lucia set the games down with a thud, looking around. “Hello? Anyone here?”
No answer. Just the faint hum of the overhead lights and the creak of the old wooden floor beneath their feet. Maria shifted uncomfortably. “Maybe we should just go. This place is giving me the creeps.”
Lucia waved her off. “Relax. The door was unlocked. Let’s look around a little more. I wanna see if there’s anything else cool here.”
Maria’s unease grew with every step they took deeper into the shop. The air felt thicker, the shadows longer, and the faint hum of the overhead lights seemed to pulse in time with her heartbeat. She glanced at Lucia, who was rifling through a stack of old electronics with the enthusiasm of a kid in a candy store. “Lucia, come on. This place is weird. Let’s just go.”
“Hold on, hold on,” Lucia said, not looking up. She was crouched in front of a low shelf, her fingers brushing over a dusty, boxy console that looked like it had been plucked straight out of the early ’80s. It was a strange, all-in-one unit with a built-in screen and a cluster of yellowed buttons. The design was clunky and outdated, but Lucia’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Oh my God, Maria, look at this. It’s like one of those old-school consoles. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Maria frowned, crossing her arms. “It looks like it belongs in a dumpster. Can we please go? I’m starting to feel like we’re in some low-budget horror movie.”
Lucia ignored her, carefully lifting the console from the shelf. It was heavier than it looked, and she grunted as she adjusted her grip. “Five more minutes, I swear. I just wanna see if there’s anything else cool.”
As if on cue, a voice echoed from the front of the store, deep and resonant, with an accent neither of them could quite place. “The store will be closing in five minutes. Please bring your items to the counter.”
Maria jumped, her heart skipping a beat. “Did you hear that? Let’s go. Now.”
Lucia, however, was unfazed. She cradled the console in her arms like a prized possession, already heading toward the front. “Relax, prima. We’re fine. Besides, I’m buying this. It’s too cool to leave behind.”
Maria groaned but followed, her eyes darting around the shop as if expecting something to jump out at them. The voice had come from the counter, but when they reached it, the shopkeeper was nowhere to be seen. The vintage cash register sat untouched, and the space behind the counter was empty.
“Hello?” Lucia called out, setting the console down with a thud. “We’re ready to check out.”
A moment later, a woman emerged from a shadowy doorway behind the counter. She was strikingly large, her presence commanding the room in a way that made Maria instinctively take a step back. Her dark, flowing dress seemed to merge with the shadows, and her hair was piled high in an intricate updo. Her eyes, sharp and piercing, locked onto Lucia and Maria with a gaze that made the hairs on the back of Maria’s neck stand up.
“Ah,” the woman said, her voice smooth, almost hypnotic, with an accent Maria couldn’t quite place—Eastern European, maybe. “You’ve found one of our more… unique items.” Her gaze lingered on the console, a faint, unsettling smile curling at the edges of her lips. “A rare piece, indeed.”
Lucia, ever the charmer, grinned. “Yeah, it’s awesome. How much for it?”
The woman leaned forward, her hands resting on the counter, her fingers adorned with rings that glinted in the dim light. “For you, my dear, five dollars.”
Maria’s eyebrows shot up. “Five dollars? That’s it?”
The woman’s smile deepened, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Consider it a… special price.” She paused, the words hanging in the air like a riddle. “But be cautious, my dear, for this particular game... takes its effects seriously. The price it asks is not what it appears.”
Lucia laughed, brushing off the cryptic comment. “Yeah, sure. Sounds fun. I’ll take it.”
Maria shot her a look. “Lucia, are you seriously not hearing this? She’s basically telling you it’s cursed or something.”
The woman’s piercing gaze shifted to Maria, her expression unreadable. “Cursed? Ah, that’s one way to look at it. But some things, dear, are meant to be… experienced—the good and the bad. The change is part of the journey, no?”
Lucia shrugged, unfazed, as she grabbed the crumpled five-dollar bill from her pocket and handed it over. “Sounds like a good deal to me.”
Maria’s stomach churned. “Wait, hold up. What does that even mean? Change? What kind of change?”
The woman slid the console across the counter, her smile widening—again, not quite reaching her eyes.
Maria’s unease spiked, her heart racing. “Okay, that’s it. We’re leaving.”
Lucia, however, was already clutching the console in both hands, ready to go. “Thanks! We’ll keep that in mind.”
The woman took the money, her rings clinking softly as she counted it. “Do... enjoy your purchase.”
As Lucia turned to leave, Maria hesitated. Her gaze met the shopkeeper’s once more, and for a moment, it felt as though the woman was peering directly into her soul. There was something ancient in her eyes, something that seemed to know more than it let on. Maria quickly looked away, her heart pounding, and followed Lucia out the door.
The bell jingled softly as they stepped back into the cool night air. Maria took a deep breath, glancing back at the storefront. The sign above the door—The Mystic Gains Exchange—seemed to shimmer faintly in the dim light, though she couldn’t be sure if it was just her imagination.
“That was... something,” Maria muttered, her voice low.
Lucia shrugged, adjusting her grip on the console. “She was just messin’ with us. You know how these places are—add a little mystery to sell the junk.”
Maria wasn’t so sure. She wasn’t even sure how much she believed in all that mystical crap, but something about tonight felt off. But it was time to walk back to the party.