Mortal Vengeance: A Grim Tale A Caribbean Gothic Prequel to Mortal Vengeance The halls of Excelsior Academy gleam with marble and stained glass, but behind the polished façade lies something far darker. Discipline is worshiped, individuality is crushed, and silence is the only currency that keeps you safe. Seventeen-year-old Julián Díaz already feels the weight of that silence pressing down on him-Catholic guilt, family sacrifice, and a cruel teacher determined to break him piece by piece. But when whispers of the Grim Cojuelo-a figure torn from Dominican carnival myth-begin to creep into his waking life, Julián realizes his guilt may have summoned more than shame. It may have called forth a hunter. Set eighteen months before the events of Mortal Vengeance, this chilling prequel reveals the origins of the mask, the scythe, and the darkness that will one day stalk Excelsior. Here, cruelty wears the face of authority, survival demands compromise, and every secret brings you closer to the inevitable. Dread replaces mystery. Every betrayal feels preordained. Because once the Grim Cojuelo takes shape, the question is no longer who the killer will be-only how soon he'll collect. Perfect for fans of Scream, The Secret History, and Caribbean folklore, Mortal Vengeance: A Grim Tale is a psychological, supernatural thriller that exposes the cost of silence, the brutality of institutions, and the birth of a new horror icon.