One day, while her husband was cleaning the backyard, he decided to cut some of the balete tree's roots that were growing onto the roof. The next morning, he woke up with a high fever and could no longer speak. His eyes were open, but he seemed unaware of everything around him.
They brought him to the hospital, but the doctors couldn't find any cause.
"It's like he's been hexed," one relative whispered.
Maricel also began to hear faint laughter at night, especially when she was alone in the kitchen. Things started disappearing - keys, clothes, sometimes even food. But the most terrifying of all were the tiny footprints inside the house, even though all windows and doors were locked.