Send us Fan Mail

Twenty-two years before Ava Perez’s story begins, her mother arrived in WillowBend carrying little more than a bag, a permanent limp, and secrets she refused to explain.

Lacey Perez claimed the injury came from a car accident. Or a hiking accident. Or, depending on the day, a fight with a serial killer. The truth was darker—and far more dangerous.

Before WillowBend, there was Lewisville. There was a mysterious hospital, a violent past, and something Lacey described not merely as dangerous, but sinister. Seeking refuge with family in Puerto Rico, she discovered curanderismo: prayers and rituals intended to protect, heal, and preserve balance.

But years later, devastated by the man who abandoned her and their unborn child, Lacey used what she had learned for revenge.

She broke the rules.

In this preface to The WillowBend Glitch, Ava introduces the secrets, shadows, and family curse that existed long before she was born—and explains why nothing that happens next can be understood without knowing what her mother was running from.

Episode Credits

• Written by Rudy Stankowitz
• Read by Tessa
• Narrated from the perspective of Ava Perez
• From the novel The WillowBend Glitch

Content Advisory

This episode contains references to trauma, physical injury, abandonment, supernatural practices, implied violence, and disturbing imagery.

Featured Themes

Family secrets, Puerto Rican folklore, curanderismo, generational trauma, supernatural revenge, shadow horror, curses, missing identity, small-town mystery, and the dangerous consequences of breaking rules designed to maintain balance.

Episode Quote

“The things I left behind weren’t dangerous. They were... sinister.”

Keywords

The WillowBend Glitch, Rudy Stankowitz, Tessa, Ava Perez, Lacey Perez, supernatural thriller, YA horror, Puerto Rican folklore, curanderismo, folk magic, paranormal fiction, family curse, generational trauma, dark fantasy, mystery audiobook, novel narration