Novela Fantàstica #1

 Fantastic Novela

‘Adult Leisure Camping’

The woods were alive with the hum of cicadas and the occasional rustle of leaves, but the tension among the three couples was louder than any sound nature could produce. The campsite was nestled deep in the forest of Moon Bay Park, a place notorious for its UFO sightings and strange occurrences. But the real strangeness wasn’t in the woods—it was in the tangled, toxic web of relationships between the six adults.

Miguel and Rosa were the picture-perfect couple, at least on the surface. Miguel was handsome and charming, but his eyes often wandered to Sofia, who was married to Carlos, a boisterous, self-absorbed man who spent most of his time cracking inappropriate jokes and drinking beer. Carlos, in turn, had been sneaking off with Rosa, though neither of them seemed to care about the consequences. And then there was Flor and Javier. Flor was kind and genuine, the kind of person who deserved better than Javier, who was distant, sarcastic, and more interested in his phone than in her. Javier, however, had been flirting with Sofia, though Sofia seemed indifferent to his advances.

The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the campsite as the group gathered around the fire. The flames crackled and popped, sending sparks into the cool evening air. Miguel sat on a log, a beer in hand, trying to ignore the tension simmering between the couples. Rosa was scrolling through her phone, pretending not to notice Sofia and Carlos whispering to each other. Javier was already on his third beer, his loud laughter grating on Flor’s nerves. Flor sat quietly, her eyes occasionally flicking to Miguel, who seemed lost in thought.

“So,” Miguel began, breaking the awkward silence, “did you guys know this place is called Bosque de la Luna because of all the UFO sightings? Apparently, people have been seeing strange lights and hearing weird noises here for decades.”

Carlos snorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Órale, Miguel. You don’t actually believe in that crap, do you?”

Miguel hesitated, his cheeks flushing slightly. “Well, I mean, there’s a lot of documented evidence. People have reported seeing strange crafts in the sky, and some even claim to have been abducted. There’s this one story about a guy who disappeared in these woods in the 1970s and showed up three days later with no memory of what happened. He said he saw a bright light and then… nada.”

Rosa rolled her eyes, not looking up from her phone. “Sounds like a bunch of borrachos making up stories to scare each other.”

Miguel’s jaw tightened, but he pressed on, determined to prove his point. “Actually, there’s more to it than that. The Chumash people who lived here centuries ago believed this area was a portal to another world. They called it the ‘Land of the Watchers.’ There are even cave paintings that depict strange, otherworldly beings.”

Javier let out a loud, exaggerated yawn. “Órale, Miguel. You should write a book or something. ‘Bosque de la Luna: Where Drunk People See Aliens.’ I’d buy it.”

The group erupted into laughter, and Miguel’s face turned bright red. He glanced at Flor, who gave him a small, sympathetic smile. “I think it’s interesting,” she said softly, her voice cutting through the laughter. “There’s a lot we don’t know about the world. Who’s to say there isn’t something out there?”

Miguel’s shoulders relaxed slightly, grateful for her support. “Exactly. I mean, the universe is massive. It’s arrogant to think we’re the only intelligent life out there.”

Carlos leaned back in his chair, a smug grin on his face. “Yeah, yeah, Mr. Scientist. But until I see a little green man waving at me from the trees, I’m gonna stick with the ‘borrachos’ theory.”

The group laughed again, and Miguel forced a smile, though his embarrassment was palpable. He took a long swig of his beer, trying to hide his discomfort. *Why do I even bother?* he thought, his inner monologue bitter. *They’re never going to take me seriously. Especially not Carlos. That guy’s a walking joke, and yet somehow, he’s the one everyone listens to.*

Flor’s voice broke through his thoughts. “I think it’s cool that you know so much about the history of this place, Miguel. It makes the trip more interesting.”

Miguel looked at her, his heart skipping a beat. Her eyes were warm and genuine, and for a moment, he forgot about the others. “Gracias, Flor,” he said quietly. “I just think it’s important to keep an open mind, you know?”

She nodded, her smile widening. “I agree. Who knows what we might find out here?”

The moment was interrupted by Javier, who let out a loud belch and stood up, swaying slightly. “Alright, enough of the ghost stories. I’m hitting the sack. Don’t let the aliens abduct me, Miguel.”

The group laughed again, and Miguel forced a chuckle, though his cheeks were still burning. As the others began to disperse, he stayed by the fire, staring into the flames. *Why do I always feel like such an idiot around them?* he thought, his inner monologue spiraling. *I try to share something interesting, and they just mock me. Maybe I should just keep my mouth shut.*

But then he thought of Flor, her kind words and genuine smile. *She gets it. She’s different. Maybe… maybe I’m not completely alone here.*

As the fire died down and the others retreated to their tents, Miguel lingered, his mind racing. The woods were quiet now, the only sound the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. He glanced toward the big oak tree, where he imagined himself making love to Flor. Deep down, he knew he couldn’t ignore the connection between them. 

The only two who hadn’t been caught in the web of infidelity were Flor and Miguel. They had always shared a quiet, unspoken connection—a chemistry that felt more real than anything the others had. They laughed together, helped each other set up tents, and exchanged knowing glances when the others bickered. The next afternoon, while the others were off “gathering firewood” (or so they claimed), Miguel and Flor found themselves alone by the creek.

The water sparkled in the sunlight, but the air between them was charged with something darker, something unspoken. Flor’s hands trembled as she reached for a smooth stone, and Miguel’s eyes lingered on her for a moment too long. “You’re too good for him, you know,” Miguel said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Flor looked up, her eyes wide and vulnerable. “And you’re too good for her,” she replied, her voice trembling.

The silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating, until Miguel finally closed the distance. His lips met hers, and the world seemed to fall away. The kiss was desperate, hungry, and full of longing. When they finally pulled apart, Flor’s cheeks were flushed, and Miguel’s breath was ragged. “Tonight,” he whispered. “Meet me by the big oak tree. We’ll figure this out.”

Flor nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. But as the sun dipped below the horizon and the woods grew darker, a sense of unease settled over the campsite. The others returned, their laughter hollow and forced, and the group sat around the fire, drinking and pretending everything was fine. Flor could barely focus, her mind racing with thoughts of Miguel and what they were about to do.

---

Miguel sat in his tent, his heart pounding as he stared at the zippered door. *What am I doing?* he thought, running a hand through his hair. *This is insane. If I go through with this, there’s no turning back. Rosa will know. Everyone will know. And what about Flor? Does she really feel the same way, or is this just some fleeting thing?*

He clenched his fists, his mind racing. *But what if this is my only chance? What if I never get another opportunity to be with someone who actually sees me, who actually cares about me? Rosa doesn’t love me. She hasn’t for years. And Flor… Flor’s different. She’s real. She’s kind. She’s everything Rosa isn’t.*

He glanced at his watch. It was almost midnight. *If I’m going to do this, I need to go now.* He took a deep breath and unzipped the tent as quietly as he could, slipping out into the cool night air. The woods were eerily silent, the only sound the crunch of leaves beneath his feet. He moved slowly, his heart pounding in his chest.

He was halfway to the oak tree when he felt it—a presence, something watching him. He froze, his breath catching in his throat. The woods were too quiet, the air too still. From the shadows, a figure emerged. It was tall and thin, its limbs unnaturally long and jointed like an insect’s. Its skin was a sickly gray, and its eyes—huge, bulbous, and black—seemed to swallow the moonlight. Miguel’s heart pounded in his chest as the creature tilted its head, studying him with an intelligence that felt alien and ancient.

The silence was deafening, pressing down on him like a physical weight. The creature didn’t move. It simply watched him, its expression unreadable. Miguel stumbled backward, his legs trembling, and the creature didn’t follow. It just stood there, its black eyes reflecting the faint light of the moon.

Miguel turned and ran, his breath coming in ragged gasps, and didn’t stop until he was back in his tent. He collapsed onto his sleeping bag, his hands over his head, his heart pounding so loudly he was sure the others could hear it.

---

The next morning, the group woke to find Miguel already in the car, his face pale and his eyes hollow. “What’s wrong with him?” Carlos asked, his voice dripping with mock concern.

Rosa shrugged, her expression indifferent. “Who knows? He’s been acting weird all weekend.”

Sofia avoided eye contact altogether, while Javier muttered something about Miguel being “dramatic.”

Flor’s heart sank as she climbed into the car, her hopes crushed. She spent the rest of the trip in silence, her mind replaying the kiss by the creek over and over again. Miguel didn’t speak to her, didn’t even look at her. By the time they left the woods, Flor had resigned herself to staying with Javier, though the thought made her stomach churn.

As the car pulled away, the woods seemed to close in behind them, dark and impenetrable. The secrets of the woods remained, buried deep beneath the surface, waiting for the next group of campers to uncover them.

---

Miguel sat in the car, his hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. The car sped down the winding road, leaving the woods—and whatever lurked within them—far behind.

AtilA