From the following excerpt of a horror story, describe an element (an object, animal, a creature or place) in english typical of the horror genre or any type of story that is part of the text. If there are no typical elements, indicate any element from the text. The element must be a physical element, not an abstract concept. Indicate in parentheses the number of the sentence from which you have extracted the element. If the element is in other language, display it only in english.

TEXT: 1- In a moment of desperate courage, NAME_1 grasped the viper in his shaking hands and locked eyes with the hooded figure.
2- The curse, he realized, could only be broken if he faced his fears and embraced the unknown.
3- In a swift act of determination, he threw the serpent at the figure, watching as it struck the masked jailer with a force far beyond what any mortal could achieve.
4- Suddenly, time began to seize, the clouds breaking apart as daylight flooded the forest once more.
5- The figure crumbled into a heap of ash, and the ancient book, the curse's source, was consumed by fire.
6- The forest, filled with a renewed sense of freedom, seemed to rejoice, the symphony of life returning to the trees and the earth beneath their feet.
7- NAME_1 and his friends, awed by the experience, returned to Iturrama with a newfound respect for the legends and stories that defined their adopted home.
8- They vowed to ensure that the curse would never be forgotten, and that others would understand the power of courage and sacrifice in the fa Please answer in JSON format.
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