July 6, 2024
Cuidé Al Esclavo De Una Bruja Historias De Terror - REDE

¡ Rápido ! Suscríbete y activa la campanita.
Se parte de la comunidad REDE.
ENVIAME TUS HISTORIAS A: relatosdesclasificados@gmail.com
SÍGUEME EN FANPAGE: https://bit.ly/33H3Og3
SÍGUEME EN INSTAGRAM: https://bit.ly/3dgiBmd
¡ Rápido ! Suscríbete y activa la campanita.
Se parte de la comunidad REDE.
ENVIAME TUS HISTORIAS A: relatosdesclasificados@gmail.com
SÍGUEME EN FANPAGE: https://bit.ly/33H3Og3
SÍGUEME EN INSTAGRAM: https://bit.ly/3dgiBmd
WEBVTT
1
00:00:05.080 --> 00:00:09.560
In the village in which I was
born It was common to hear a legend
2
00:00:09.679 --> 00:00:13.800
about a woman who arrived by boat
next to two more men. They spoke
3
00:00:13.880 --> 00:00:18.879
another language. In the beginning.
The inhabitants had distrust because they were of
4
00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:24.839
very white teas with other customs and
traditions. They said that it was the
5
00:00:24.879 --> 00:00:29.879
woman who performed strange practices, since
every end of the month she dressed completely
6
00:00:29.960 --> 00:00:34.119
in black. He went out with
the two men at night, set up
7
00:00:34.159 --> 00:00:39.359
a campfire on the slopes of the
hill and danced around him singing strange songs.
8
00:00:40.159 --> 00:00:43.759
I did it every month on a
full moon. There was a rumor
9
00:00:43.920 --> 00:00:48.759
that she was the first witch to
come to the country from the old world
10
00:00:49.399 --> 00:00:53.679
and that, along with the knowledge
that our ancestors had, she became more
11
00:00:53.759 --> 00:00:59.399
powerful to believe that she had managed
to transcend the barriers of death. It
12
00:00:59.399 --> 00:01:00.039
was, it was, it was. It was interesting to hear my grandfather
13
00:01:00.039 --> 00:01:06.640
tell us that story a thousand times
because every time he said it he added
14
00:01:06.719 --> 00:01:11.400
one more detail to the story.
On one occasion I asked Grandpa if they
15
00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:15.680
were not afraid of that woman who
managed to challenge time and not grow old.
16
00:01:15.959 --> 00:01:22.319
My grandfather said yes. That'
s why they treated her with respect,
17
00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:26.480
looking for a way not to enrag
her so that she wouldn' t
18
00:01:26.560 --> 00:01:30.480
unload all her anger on some villager. Although my cousins were no longer interested
19
00:01:30.519 --> 00:01:36.280
in hearing it. I was always
curious to imagine it was true. My
20
00:01:36.319 --> 00:01:41.319
parents didn' t believe his words. They said it was part of his
21
00:01:41.319 --> 00:01:45.719
imagination, part of the things my
grandfather told. It was that many years
22
00:01:45.760 --> 00:01:49.000
before the Spaniards arrived in the new
world, a ship arrived in the port
23
00:01:49.120 --> 00:01:55.760
with unknown people. Several men and
women came, although not all managed to
24
00:01:55.760 --> 00:02:00.760
survive, as they brought with them
viruses and unknown bacteria and the natural remedies
25
00:02:00.840 --> 00:02:07.159
of the first settlers were not enough. Soon they were killed by the group
26
00:02:07.199 --> 00:02:12.199
of people who arrived on the boat. None of them knew the language of
27
00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:17.520
the porters, nor did our ancestors
know theirs. Communication was initially complicated.
28
00:02:20.439 --> 00:02:24.000
Little by little, both groups learned
the language and communication was fluid, which
29
00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:30.400
allowed socialization between them, in such
a way that loving bonds were made between
30
00:02:30.439 --> 00:02:36.560
men and women. The strange thing
happened when the woman married an indigenous man.
31
00:02:37.639 --> 00:02:40.439
Their relationship did not last for long, for just two years. They
32
00:02:40.520 --> 00:02:46.199
were together, but then the man
died. Later he had a relationship with
33
00:02:46.319 --> 00:02:52.360
another man. In the same way, he died of unknown causes. Grandpa
34
00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:57.960
talked every day about those Spanish travelers
who first arrived on the continent. He
35
00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:00.759
insisted that she of or of nombre
l rÃa was a witch who got everything
36
00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:07.520
she was looking for. Everything was
fine up there. It was fun to
37
00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:13.199
hear my grandfather' s stories as
if they were a tale or a legend
38
00:03:13.240 --> 00:03:16.039
half true and half lie. That' s how he took his stories.
39
00:03:16.840 --> 00:03:23.759
Only that happened an event that changed
everything due to the growth that took place
40
00:03:23.800 --> 00:03:29.599
in the town because the port began
to have better commercialization. People came from
41
00:03:29.680 --> 00:03:35.719
different places in the Mexican Republic,
even from other countries. Among those people
42
00:03:35.759 --> 00:03:40.039
who arrived there was a somewhat unusual
marriage settled in one of the haciendas that
43
00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:46.759
were outside the village. It was
a farm that was completely abandoned and in
44
00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:51.879
conditions not so good. It took
a lot of arrangements to make it look
45
00:03:51.879 --> 00:03:57.439
good. This required the hiring of
several construction workers, electric plumbers and other
46
00:03:58.039 --> 00:04:04.680
employees who had the capacity to perform
the work. My cousin, Juan,
47
00:04:04.840 --> 00:04:10.439
was one of the masons who was
working at the farm. He, like
48
00:04:10.479 --> 00:04:15.319
me, went on weekends to visit
grandparents. In the first week he worked
49
00:04:15.399 --> 00:04:20.040
there, I asked him how he
felt about the marriage to the older man
50
00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:25.079
and his wife so young that they
had arrived. John told me quietly that
51
00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:30.800
the woman had very strange customs.
It was possible that he noticed because he
52
00:04:30.879 --> 00:04:35.480
had to enter his room. One
of the walls was very damp, as
53
00:04:35.639 --> 00:04:40.240
he removed the saltpetre from the wall
and painted the whole bedroom in blue.
54
00:04:40.920 --> 00:04:46.160
Celeste could see that he had many
ancient objects, a standing clock that played
55
00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:53.959
a pleasant melody every hour. It
was made of fine wood and elaborate machinery,
56
00:04:54.600 --> 00:05:00.480
but that was the least. He
had a closet full of dresses the
57
00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:04.079
old ones, like those of the
old movies. In a glass box were
58
00:05:04.279 --> 00:05:10.879
necklaces of pearls and gold he kept, as well as a locket in which
59
00:05:10.920 --> 00:05:15.639
he had a lock of black orange
hair, which most caught his attention,
60
00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:20.680
a huge picture with gold ornaments.
In it was the painting of a beautiful
61
00:05:20.800 --> 00:05:30.000
woman with long black hair, extremely
white tea with a viceroyal dress. He
62
00:05:30.040 --> 00:05:34.160
continued to say that the painting seemed
as real to him as if it were
63
00:05:34.160 --> 00:05:39.439
a person, although it was not
exactly that of the lady of the house,
64
00:05:39.920 --> 00:05:43.680
but of someone else. For a
moment she thought it could be about
65
00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:48.079
her mother, because they maintained a
certain resemblance and was the figure of a
66
00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:54.519
mature woman. Everything my cousin told
me seemed surprising because on one occasion I
67
00:05:54.600 --> 00:05:59.199
saw her. When he went to
the market to buy. The lady was
68
00:05:59.279 --> 00:06:03.560
called car Ella was of Spanish descent, as was her husband and three children.
69
00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:10.360
They had three little ones I spent
most of my time with. It
70
00:06:10.439 --> 00:06:15.360
was so much interest that I told
Juan that if at any time Mrs Carmen
71
00:06:15.439 --> 00:06:20.040
needed a domestic employee or a nanny, she would recommend me so that I
72
00:06:20.079 --> 00:06:26.600
could get the job before anyone else, because I wanted to know more about
73
00:06:26.639 --> 00:06:31.120
that family. It didn' t
take long for her husband to get sick.
74
00:06:31.639 --> 00:06:35.959
I did not know what was the
real illness he presented, because at
75
00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:42.079
that time I did not work in
the estate, but I understood it because
76
00:06:42.199 --> 00:06:46.959
the man was older. I'
m sure when they got married she was
77
00:06:46.959 --> 00:06:50.959
barely a child. The age difference
was great. As the man got worse.
78
00:06:51.879 --> 00:06:57.120
That' s when Mrs Carmen asked
for a person to help her with
79
00:06:57.160 --> 00:07:00.120
the care of her husband. He
preferred that he had knowledge of nursing on
80
00:07:00.199 --> 00:07:05.519
one to give him the injections.
The serum would supply her with her medications
81
00:07:05.560 --> 00:07:10.399
and all the care she needed.
The sick John told me that he had
82
00:07:10.439 --> 00:07:15.519
told the lady about me and that
the next day I would introduce myself to
83
00:07:15.720 --> 00:07:19.639
her to give me the job.
He had some knowledge of first aid because
84
00:07:19.839 --> 00:07:25.439
he had studied a technical career in
nursing. That' s why my cousin
85
00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:30.480
immediately recommended me. The next day
I showed up at nine o' clock
86
00:07:30.680 --> 00:07:33.639
in the morning at Mrs Carmen'
s house. Since I entered the room
87
00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:40.879
I could see how striking the furniture
and the paintings were peculiar. I thought
88
00:07:40.920 --> 00:07:46.120
it was his three children, because
there were just three paintings. When I
89
00:07:46.199 --> 00:07:51.319
entered Mrs Carmen' s room,
she greeted me with great kindness. Immediately
90
00:07:51.399 --> 00:07:57.079
I was struck by a gold ring
on the index finger of his left hand.
91
00:07:59.160 --> 00:08:03.319
It had a strange wave symbol with
a red stone. The lady noticed
92
00:08:03.399 --> 00:08:07.360
that I was captivated by her ring
without asking so many questions. He gave
93
00:08:07.399 --> 00:08:11.160
me the job. He told me
that if I was just as responsible and
94
00:08:11.240 --> 00:08:15.639
hardworking as my cousin, I didn' t need any letter of recommendation.
95
00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:20.399
The job was mine, although she
warned me that it was not going to
96
00:08:20.519 --> 00:08:26.040
be easy because her husband was in
very bad conditions. He had already taken
97
00:08:26.120 --> 00:08:30.279
him with doctors from his country and
also when he arrived in our country,
98
00:08:30.439 --> 00:08:35.519
he went with doctors from the capital, but they did not find the cause
99
00:08:35.639 --> 00:08:39.919
of his suffering and every day his
life was gradually extinguished. The lady took
100
00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:43.840
me to her husband. I knew
I wasn' t as young as she
101
00:08:43.879 --> 00:08:48.960
was, but when I saw him
lying in bed, I was an old
102
00:08:48.960 --> 00:08:52.559
man consumed by illness. The skin
was attached to the skeleton, with extreme
103
00:08:52.600 --> 00:08:56.720
paleness and almost hairless. I can' t deny I was surprised to see
104
00:08:56.720 --> 00:09:01.559
him. I knew from the words
of my cousin that I was not well,
105
00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:05.120
that I sometimes saw him roaming the
garden from the distance he worked.
106
00:09:07.080 --> 00:09:11.080
I noticed the difficulty with which I
walked and how sick I was, but
107
00:09:11.200 --> 00:09:16.360
I didn' t imagine that at
such an extreme that same day I was
108
00:09:16.360 --> 00:09:20.519
left to attend to the pattern.
Mrs Carmen gave me the instructions about her
109
00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:24.960
medications and her diet. I went
to the man' s room. He
110
00:09:24.039 --> 00:09:28.399
didn' t even notice my presence. He was asleep for over five hours.
111
00:09:30.039 --> 00:09:33.840
Only one sound came out of his
chest. It was the only sign
112
00:09:33.879 --> 00:09:37.399
that he was still alive. While
the lord slept, I looked out of
113
00:09:37.480 --> 00:09:43.399
the large window overlooking the inner garden
of the house. I saw Mrs Carmen,
114
00:09:43.559 --> 00:09:46.320
who went out for a walk with
her two little ones in her hand.
115
00:09:46.759 --> 00:09:48.399
She was a six- year-
old girl and a four- year
116
00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:52.039
- old. I thought there were
three of them, but I only saw
117
00:09:52.159 --> 00:09:56.799
her with two of them. The
lord began to complain with a grave voice.
118
00:09:58.080 --> 00:10:03.240
He asked me for water but he
barely moistened his lips because he didn
119
00:10:03.240 --> 00:10:07.320
' t want it anymore. It
started with nausea and vomiting a black substance.
120
00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:11.960
It was so fast, I didn' t get a chance to get
121
00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:13.440
a container close so it wouldn'
t get dirty. He had to change
122
00:10:13.480 --> 00:10:20.919
his clothes. As I undressed his
torso, I could see some marks on
123
00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:24.639
his chest and back. They were
strange symbols that were marked with an ink.
124
00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:28.600
When the crisis was over, the
man held me by the hand with
125
00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:35.240
the little strength I had with a
barely understandable voice. He told me to
126
00:10:35.240 --> 00:10:41.399
help me. Please help me.
Of course I am, sir I'
127
00:10:41.399 --> 00:10:43.759
m here to support you in everything
you need. I answered him. He
128
00:10:43.799 --> 00:10:48.080
didn' t let me go and
kept saying the same thing. It was
129
00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:52.279
so much his insistence that it was
necessary that Zafara me by his hand,
130
00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:58.279
that he pressed me tightly immediately,
fell asleep. When they gave me seven
131
00:10:58.320 --> 00:11:01.639
o' clock in the afternoon,
I said goodbye to my shoulder, but
132
00:11:01.679 --> 00:11:07.440
I think he didn' t even
realize my presence, because all the time
133
00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:09.399
he was sunk in a deep sleep. Before I left, I took the
134
00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:16.360
last look at that poor man.
He was truly in deplorable conditions. I
135
00:11:16.440 --> 00:11:18.759
didn' t think he had much
time to live. I said goodbye to
136
00:11:18.840 --> 00:11:24.000
Mrs Carmen and went home. As
I walked down the path to my home.
137
00:11:24.600 --> 00:11:28.120
I couldn' t stop thinking about
him He was a living corpse.
138
00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:33.519
Although his words resonated in my mind, I still had the doubt why he
139
00:11:33.559 --> 00:11:39.159
had asked me for my help in
the morning, very early before the sun
140
00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:45.240
announced his presence. My mother knocked
on the door of my room. He
141
00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:48.639
told me that my cousin, Juan, had gone looking for me immediately.
142
00:11:48.679 --> 00:11:52.919
I got up and told him to
come in. He was upset. He
143
00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:56.919
told me that the gentleman had become
very ill and that Mrs Carmen asked me
144
00:11:56.000 --> 00:12:01.759
to leave as soon as possible to
take care of him, because only I
145
00:12:01.799 --> 00:12:03.919
could inject and put the serum on
him. Without hesitation for a minute.
146
00:12:05.240 --> 00:12:07.600
I got dressed and went with my
cousin to Mrs Carmen' s house.
147
00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:11.759
I can' t deny that that
house, with the darkness of the night,
148
00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:16.720
looked different. I went straight to
the gentleman' s room. In
149
00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:20.000
fact, the man had very open
eyes and tried to remove something nonexistent with
150
00:12:20.039 --> 00:12:26.480
his hands. Mrs Carmen, as
soon as she saw me, smiled gratefully.
151
00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:30.960
He asked me to take care of
him and he left. I tried
152
00:12:31.080 --> 00:12:35.799
to reassure the man by supplying one
of the painkillers the doctor had prescribed,
153
00:12:35.799 --> 00:12:39.480
but as soon as he saw me, he grabbed me again from my hand
154
00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:43.919
and did not release it. Again
he asked me for help, I no
155
00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:48.480
longer answered him, because it seemed
that he did not understand with compassion.
156
00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:54.240
I changed it because it had a
bad smell. I found it strange because
157
00:12:54.320 --> 00:12:58.120
the day before I had changed it. As I took his clothes off,
158
00:12:58.559 --> 00:13:03.000
I could notice his extreme thinness without
saying anything. I did everything I needed.
159
00:13:05.399 --> 00:13:09.120
In a few minutes he fell asleep
deeply, which gave me the opportunity
160
00:13:09.320 --> 00:13:13.799
to go out for a while to
walk around the house. Although I knew
161
00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:16.279
there were two children in the house, I hardly saw them. I only
162
00:13:16.360 --> 00:13:22.679
occasionally heard his laughs around the house, but very rarely I could see them.
163
00:13:24.480 --> 00:13:28.240
That morning, the lady asked me
to go talk to her to tell
164
00:13:28.279 --> 00:13:31.679
me she needed my services at night. If she was in my position,
165
00:13:33.080 --> 00:13:37.240
she asked me to stay and take
care of her husband because during the night
166
00:13:37.320 --> 00:13:41.480
she needed medicine and support. He
offered me a big paycheck, which I
167
00:13:41.559 --> 00:13:46.679
couldn' t refuse. I only
asked him to give me a chance to
168
00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:50.320
warn my family and go get a
change of clothes, as I was not
169
00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:56.000
ready to stay day and night.
The lady told me that it was not
170
00:13:56.000 --> 00:13:58.759
necessary, I had already told my
cousin to tell my family and my clothes.
171
00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:05.080
I didn' t have to worry
I had a lot in the closet
172
00:14:05.080 --> 00:14:09.679
I could use the one I needed. From that day on I stayed full
173
00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:13.240
time at the lady' s house
The first night I felt strange in a
174
00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:18.200
house that was not my own.
Sir was asleep most of the time.
175
00:14:20.960 --> 00:14:24.120
Since I couldn' t sleep,
I stood by the window to the horizon.
176
00:14:24.759 --> 00:14:28.240
There was no moon, so it
was not possible to see anything,
177
00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:33.480
just an extended blackness. Suddenly I
heard the sound of someone outside in the
178
00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:37.440
yard. No matter how hard I
tried my eyesight. I couldn' t
179
00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:41.240
see anything until I saw a woman
dressed in white. I could only see
180
00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:46.600
his clothes. I assumed it was
Mrs Carmen. I carefully opened the window
181
00:14:46.679 --> 00:14:52.559
to the balcony. That way it
would have a little visibility, as only
182
00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:56.279
a pale light gave its flash from
the corridor. It was when I realized
183
00:14:56.399 --> 00:15:03.440
that she was Mrs Ca walking towards
the back door of the house to the
184
00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:07.440
room, the sound of the gnashing
of the wood came. When I opened
185
00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:13.480
the gate I immediately lost sight of
her I no longer saw her return,
186
00:15:13.799 --> 00:15:16.519
because the lord began to cough in
a way that almost drowned. I picked
187
00:15:16.679 --> 00:15:20.840
him up so he wouldn' t
drown, but he started throwing up blood.
188
00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:26.399
When the lord was able to re- establish himself from the episode so
189
00:15:26.440 --> 00:15:30.759
strong he had, it gave me
the impression that he regained some sense,
190
00:15:30.919 --> 00:15:35.519
because before I gave him the injection
with his hand, he told me to
191
00:15:35.639 --> 00:15:41.039
stop and he could speak slowly and
with a trembling voice, but I came
192
00:15:41.080 --> 00:15:43.879
to understand what he meant me,
no longer do it. He asked me
193
00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:48.600
not to give him the medicine to
let him rest. I knew I was
194
00:15:48.919 --> 00:15:52.120
leaving very soon and I wanted to
do it. Conscious was all he could
195
00:15:52.200 --> 00:15:58.360
tell me, as he opened his
eyes as he looked toward the window.
196
00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:04.080
There was someone there. I can' t describe exactly what I saw because
197
00:16:04.200 --> 00:16:10.159
it was very dark, but it
was a floating spectrum that only lasted a
198
00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:14.279
few seconds and left. The man
got very nervous and started screaming. He
199
00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:18.600
didn' t have the strength to
do it with a loud voice and began
200
00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:23.279
to pull off the little hair he
had left, although he had promised him
201
00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:26.799
that he would no longer inject it. I had to do it because he
202
00:16:27.320 --> 00:16:32.559
got deranged and didn' t want
the lady to wake up and scold me
203
00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:36.240
for not giving him her meds in
time. Within a few minutes he fell
204
00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:41.320
deeply asleep with that noise that he
made when breathing the dream. I had
205
00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:45.399
been absent because of the mixed feelings
I had. Besides, that' s
206
00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:49.480
when I could think about what I' d seen. I walked out of
207
00:16:49.559 --> 00:16:55.480
the gentleman' s room with the
candlelight I was walking down the halls.
208
00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:57.879
I didn' t understand why I
had the instinct to go into the room.
209
00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:03.359
Better. I wouldn' t have
done it because those huge paintings that
210
00:17:03.359 --> 00:17:07.319
were hanging on the walls were empty. I could no longer see them,
211
00:17:08.359 --> 00:17:14.640
because the noise of the lock indicated
that someone was coming from outside. I
212
00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:18.880
turned off the candle and hid behind
the clock. When I saw her,
213
00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:22.480
she was Mrs Carmen, dressed in
a white nightgown and with her hair,
214
00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:27.319
she looked so different. I was
sure it was her, because I sensed
215
00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:33.480
the scent of her perfume. As
soon as the lady retired to her chamber
216
00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:37.519
I took advantage to do the same. Before I did, I looked again
217
00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:41.920
at the paintings, and the people
were already in their respective painting. It
218
00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:45.440
was so much fear that I was
left paralyzed for a few seconds without being
219
00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:52.039
able to move. At that moment
I noticed that the woman in the painting
220
00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:56.079
blinked and made a slight smile.
I couldn' t take that anymore I
221
00:17:56.160 --> 00:18:03.119
ran into Mr Tremenda' s room. When I saw Mrs Carmen inside the
222
00:18:03.160 --> 00:18:07.640
room, she stared at me without
asking me anything, I told her I
223
00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:11.960
was going out for a drink of
water. It was only a few seconds
224
00:18:12.039 --> 00:18:17.119
when I left the gentleman alone.
She didn' t answer me, she
225
00:18:17.160 --> 00:18:22.559
just felt and left. I checked
the Lord' s vital signs he was
226
00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:27.960
afraid that she would have done something
to him, but He did not keep
227
00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:32.559
sleeping deeply because of the sedative I
injected him with. I didn' t
228
00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:36.880
want to be in that house anymore. They had very strange customs and I
229
00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:41.240
didn' t feel safe. The
next day I' d tell Mrs Carmen
230
00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:47.359
that I could work during the day, but I wasn' t going to
231
00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:49.720
do it at night. If I
agreed, I kept working with her.
232
00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:53.880
If I wouldn' t leave.
As for daylight, he lit up the
233
00:18:55.119 --> 00:19:00.680
room, went out to talk to
the lady. She' s in the
234
00:19:00.839 --> 00:19:04.960
room reading a book, with her
hair picked up, with her characteristic elegance,
235
00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:08.440
she didn' t look like the
same woman the night before. I
236
00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:14.839
told him I couldn' t keep
working at night, contrary to what I
237
00:19:14.839 --> 00:19:18.319
expected. She smiled and didn'
t even ask me for an explanation.
238
00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:22.279
He told me he was fine.
I just wanted to ask one last favor,
239
00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:26.880
to stay that night to take care
of the lord because I couldn'
240
00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:30.480
t find someone else to supply me
the next day. I wouldn' t
241
00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:34.200
do it anymore. I didn'
t want to stay a minute longer when
242
00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:40.759
the shadows of the night became present, because that house became something sinister.
243
00:19:41.359 --> 00:19:45.519
But I also owed my cousin Juan
the favor and he couldn' t look
244
00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:51.119
bad. I replied that I would, although it would only be that night.
245
00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:59.400
Mrs Carmen smiled gratefully, got up
and went to her room. In
246
00:19:59.400 --> 00:20:03.839
the morning I was looking for my
cousin Juan. I wanted him to tell
247
00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:08.039
me what else he had noticed about
the lady, but for some strange reason
248
00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:14.480
I couldn' t find him in
the distance. He listened to the workers
249
00:20:14.599 --> 00:20:19.200
lifting the fence of wood while the
masons made the mixture for the fence.
250
00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:25.720
But my cousin didn' t see
him anywhere. I couldn' t keep
251
00:20:25.880 --> 00:20:29.680
looking for him anymore because the lord
came out of his deep sleep. He
252
00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:33.920
asked me for some water. With
little strength left, he grabbed my hand
253
00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:38.279
and did not release it carefully.
I pulled it out. I approached her
254
00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:42.319
ear and told her that I knew
something bad was going on in the house,
255
00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:48.279
but I couldn' t know what. I wouldn' t have said
256
00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:53.839
that to the man because he opened
his eyes disproportionately and wanted to talk,
257
00:20:55.400 --> 00:20:57.079
but the words didn' t come
out of his mouth. Just a few
258
00:20:57.079 --> 00:21:03.240
sounds, as if Mrs Carmen realized
that. He went into the room.
259
00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:08.680
Unannounced, he touched the forehead and
face of Mr Smiling. He told her
260
00:21:08.759 --> 00:21:15.240
that today was the special day and
left the room immediately after the lady left.
261
00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:19.480
He was very restless. You could
tell he wanted to tell me something,
262
00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:22.799
but it wasn' t possible.
His forces were no longer enough.
263
00:21:25.160 --> 00:21:29.880
Most of the day he was asleep. I was afraid that night would come,
264
00:21:30.599 --> 00:21:33.759
but I had no choice. I
decided not to leave the gentleman'
265
00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:37.599
s room at all. I'
d stay there and take care of him
266
00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:41.880
and protect him. When the darkness
of the night was total, I began
267
00:21:41.880 --> 00:21:48.480
to hear murmurs in other rooms of
the house, as if there were more
268
00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:52.880
people inside. He had promised me
not to go out at all and I
269
00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:57.400
fulfilled it after midnight. The murmurs
were louder. The lord began to get
270
00:21:57.440 --> 00:22:03.440
restless. He was moving a lot. He tried to talk without getting it
271
00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:08.680
within a few minutes. She died
before going to Mrs Carmen to tell her
272
00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:14.039
about her husband' s death.
I swelled to pray one last prayer for
273
00:22:14.119 --> 00:22:18.799
that man, for all the time
I felt compassion for him. I asked
274
00:22:18.920 --> 00:22:22.920
for the rest of his soul.
When I heard a strange sound, I
275
00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:27.400
saw the silhouette of a young man. It seemed to be the soul of
276
00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:33.839
the lord because I could distinguish the
same sad look. He stayed for a
277
00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:37.440
few seconds looking at his body and
looked at me. I was petrified from
278
00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:42.440
fear. I couldn' t move
out to tell Mrs Carmen, but it
279
00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:49.400
wasn' t necessary because she came
in with her long loose black hair carrying
280
00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:52.640
a bottle with her. I have
no idea how he did it, but
281
00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:57.720
I saw when the lord' s
spirit got inside the glass container, she
282
00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:03.319
covered it up, missed a cork
and left. I didn' t know
283
00:23:03.400 --> 00:23:07.240
what to do or think. The
only thing that occurred to me was to
284
00:23:07.359 --> 00:23:11.880
stay still inside the room, next
to the man' s body, where
285
00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:18.200
his factions were relaxing outside the room. I was able to distinguish screams and
286
00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:22.640
murmurs from more women. I didn' t want to think anymore, but
287
00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:27.000
I was pretty sure they were the
people inside the paintings. It would be
288
00:23:27.119 --> 00:23:30.079
a lie if I said I could
sleep that night. Every time I looked
289
00:23:30.119 --> 00:23:34.920
at the Lord, disturbing thoughts came
to my mind. I thought that at
290
00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:41.880
any moment he could get up and
go out to meet Mrs Carmen, but
291
00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:47.519
then I remembered that she put her
spirit into a bottle and I was afraid
292
00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:51.400
that that woman would approach me,
because the same thing could happen to me.
293
00:23:51.880 --> 00:23:56.960
Only after two hours did the silence
become present. Everything was completely calm.
294
00:23:57.839 --> 00:24:03.720
I could tell when the lady approached
the door I heard her heels walking
295
00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:10.200
on the wooden floor stood for a
few seconds. It was the longest time
296
00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:15.480
I had inside that house when I
heard his steps were moving away. I
297
00:24:15.559 --> 00:24:21.759
was able to breathe calmly because even
my breath was contained in fear that he
298
00:24:21.880 --> 00:24:26.440
would realize that I was awake as
soon as dawn or I left the room
299
00:24:26.519 --> 00:24:32.359
to go home. In the hallway
I met Mrs Carmen. She looked brighter
300
00:24:32.440 --> 00:24:37.359
and prettier. I could swear I
was younger. He gave me my corresponding
301
00:24:37.640 --> 00:24:42.359
salary and I walked away from that
house that I had never intended to return
302
00:24:42.359 --> 00:24:47.079
to. On the way back I
met my cousin Juan. As soon as
303
00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:49.559
I saw him I ran to hug
him. I told him that the lord
304
00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:55.759
had died and that Mrs Carmen was
very strange. Juan asked me to calm
305
00:24:55.839 --> 00:25:00.359
down. He said he understood me
very well. Spending all night with a
306
00:25:00.440 --> 00:25:06.599
corpse was not pleasant at all.
Besides, I interrupted him to tell him
307
00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:11.079
that he had seen him die and
so did his soul. Juan listened to
308
00:25:11.119 --> 00:25:15.960
me attentively, although he noticed that
he did not understand me at all.
309
00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:19.240
I left Mrs Carmen' s hacienda
with a bad taste in my mouth.
310
00:25:19.880 --> 00:25:23.720
Before I went home, I went
to my grandfather' s house. I
311
00:25:23.880 --> 00:25:29.119
had a need to talk to him. My grandfather was watering the plants in
312
00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:32.759
his garden. He saw me in
the distance and smiled. I ran to
313
00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:37.720
hug him. He missed my hug
almost crying. I told her that Mrs
314
00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:41.440
Carmen was a witch who was right. When she told me about that woman
315
00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:48.119
who came into town many years ago, Mrs Carmen was probably another one.
316
00:25:48.599 --> 00:25:52.359
My grandfather was surprised by what I
told him. He asked me to tell
317
00:25:52.440 --> 00:25:57.920
him every single detail. Then he
kept thinking for a few minutes to tell
318
00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:03.240
me everything was possible. That woman
could be a descendant of the same woman
319
00:26:03.319 --> 00:26:08.319
who told me. She just told
me to be very careful with Mrs Carmen
320
00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:14.720
and stay away from her. At
Mrs Carmen' s house, her husband
321
00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:18.680
' s funeral was held. As
was the custom, very few people attended,
322
00:26:19.079 --> 00:26:25.079
since the lady was very little related
to the inhabitants. I kept out
323
00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:30.640
of fear, but it didn'
t all end there. Mrs Carmen went
324
00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:33.640
on with her life. I can' t say that I know what she
325
00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:38.359
did after her husband' s death, because I preferred to stay away from
326
00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:42.599
her, but over the months she
married a young man from a neighboring village.
327
00:26:44.119 --> 00:26:48.680
Everything was done with great discretion in
the village. He was said to
328
00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:56.480
be younger than her. I cannot
deny that I was curious to meet him
329
00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:59.759
at a time when I went to
the village square, Mrs Carmen was going
330
00:26:59.799 --> 00:27:03.799
to r his arm. It was
strange that he went out and showed up.
331
00:27:03.319 --> 00:27:07.839
With the passing of the days in
the village the rumor began to spread
332
00:27:07.960 --> 00:27:12.240
that Mrs Carmen' s husband had
become ill and that he was asking for
333
00:27:12.359 --> 00:27:15.960
the services of someone who could help. From that time when I learned about
334
00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:21.880
that man' s illness, he
was rarely seen until, once I went
335
00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:25.640
to do a job very close to
Mrs Carmen' s estate, I could
336
00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:32.799
not contain myself and went to the
main gate. From there you could see
337
00:27:32.839 --> 00:27:37.119
the inner courtyard of the house.
It was surprising to see him in a
338
00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:41.319
pitiful state. He looked so thin. I left the house fleeing the place
339
00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:45.799
with the latent fear, thinking that
she could realize my presence in her house,
340
00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:51.839
I walked away as quickly as I
could ever return to the place.
341
00:27:55.880 --> 00:28:00.200
Story written and adapted by Adriana Cuevas
a
1
00:00:05.080 --> 00:00:09.560
In the village in which I was
born It was common to hear a legend
2
00:00:09.679 --> 00:00:13.800
about a woman who arrived by boat
next to two more men. They spoke
3
00:00:13.880 --> 00:00:18.879
another language. In the beginning.
The inhabitants had distrust because they were of
4
00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:24.839
very white teas with other customs and
traditions. They said that it was the
5
00:00:24.879 --> 00:00:29.879
woman who performed strange practices, since
every end of the month she dressed completely
6
00:00:29.960 --> 00:00:34.119
in black. He went out with
the two men at night, set up
7
00:00:34.159 --> 00:00:39.359
a campfire on the slopes of the
hill and danced around him singing strange songs.
8
00:00:40.159 --> 00:00:43.759
I did it every month on a
full moon. There was a rumor
9
00:00:43.920 --> 00:00:48.759
that she was the first witch to
come to the country from the old world
10
00:00:49.399 --> 00:00:53.679
and that, along with the knowledge
that our ancestors had, she became more
11
00:00:53.759 --> 00:00:59.399
powerful to believe that she had managed
to transcend the barriers of death. It
12
00:00:59.399 --> 00:01:00.039
was, it was, it was. It was interesting to hear my grandfather
13
00:01:00.039 --> 00:01:06.640
tell us that story a thousand times
because every time he said it he added
14
00:01:06.719 --> 00:01:11.400
one more detail to the story.
On one occasion I asked Grandpa if they
15
00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:15.680
were not afraid of that woman who
managed to challenge time and not grow old.
16
00:01:15.959 --> 00:01:22.319
My grandfather said yes. That'
s why they treated her with respect,
17
00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:26.480
looking for a way not to enrag
her so that she wouldn' t
18
00:01:26.560 --> 00:01:30.480
unload all her anger on some villager. Although my cousins were no longer interested
19
00:01:30.519 --> 00:01:36.280
in hearing it. I was always
curious to imagine it was true. My
20
00:01:36.319 --> 00:01:41.319
parents didn' t believe his words. They said it was part of his
21
00:01:41.319 --> 00:01:45.719
imagination, part of the things my
grandfather told. It was that many years
22
00:01:45.760 --> 00:01:49.000
before the Spaniards arrived in the new
world, a ship arrived in the port
23
00:01:49.120 --> 00:01:55.760
with unknown people. Several men and
women came, although not all managed to
24
00:01:55.760 --> 00:02:00.760
survive, as they brought with them
viruses and unknown bacteria and the natural remedies
25
00:02:00.840 --> 00:02:07.159
of the first settlers were not enough. Soon they were killed by the group
26
00:02:07.199 --> 00:02:12.199
of people who arrived on the boat. None of them knew the language of
27
00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:17.520
the porters, nor did our ancestors
know theirs. Communication was initially complicated.
28
00:02:20.439 --> 00:02:24.000
Little by little, both groups learned
the language and communication was fluid, which
29
00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:30.400
allowed socialization between them, in such
a way that loving bonds were made between
30
00:02:30.439 --> 00:02:36.560
men and women. The strange thing
happened when the woman married an indigenous man.
31
00:02:37.639 --> 00:02:40.439
Their relationship did not last for long, for just two years. They
32
00:02:40.520 --> 00:02:46.199
were together, but then the man
died. Later he had a relationship with
33
00:02:46.319 --> 00:02:52.360
another man. In the same way, he died of unknown causes. Grandpa
34
00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:57.960
talked every day about those Spanish travelers
who first arrived on the continent. He
35
00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:00.759
insisted that she of or of nombre
l rÃa was a witch who got everything
36
00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:07.520
she was looking for. Everything was
fine up there. It was fun to
37
00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:13.199
hear my grandfather' s stories as
if they were a tale or a legend
38
00:03:13.240 --> 00:03:16.039
half true and half lie. That' s how he took his stories.
39
00:03:16.840 --> 00:03:23.759
Only that happened an event that changed
everything due to the growth that took place
40
00:03:23.800 --> 00:03:29.599
in the town because the port began
to have better commercialization. People came from
41
00:03:29.680 --> 00:03:35.719
different places in the Mexican Republic,
even from other countries. Among those people
42
00:03:35.759 --> 00:03:40.039
who arrived there was a somewhat unusual
marriage settled in one of the haciendas that
43
00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:46.759
were outside the village. It was
a farm that was completely abandoned and in
44
00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:51.879
conditions not so good. It took
a lot of arrangements to make it look
45
00:03:51.879 --> 00:03:57.439
good. This required the hiring of
several construction workers, electric plumbers and other
46
00:03:58.039 --> 00:04:04.680
employees who had the capacity to perform
the work. My cousin, Juan,
47
00:04:04.840 --> 00:04:10.439
was one of the masons who was
working at the farm. He, like
48
00:04:10.479 --> 00:04:15.319
me, went on weekends to visit
grandparents. In the first week he worked
49
00:04:15.399 --> 00:04:20.040
there, I asked him how he
felt about the marriage to the older man
50
00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:25.079
and his wife so young that they
had arrived. John told me quietly that
51
00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:30.800
the woman had very strange customs.
It was possible that he noticed because he
52
00:04:30.879 --> 00:04:35.480
had to enter his room. One
of the walls was very damp, as
53
00:04:35.639 --> 00:04:40.240
he removed the saltpetre from the wall
and painted the whole bedroom in blue.
54
00:04:40.920 --> 00:04:46.160
Celeste could see that he had many
ancient objects, a standing clock that played
55
00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:53.959
a pleasant melody every hour. It
was made of fine wood and elaborate machinery,
56
00:04:54.600 --> 00:05:00.480
but that was the least. He
had a closet full of dresses the
57
00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:04.079
old ones, like those of the
old movies. In a glass box were
58
00:05:04.279 --> 00:05:10.879
necklaces of pearls and gold he kept, as well as a locket in which
59
00:05:10.920 --> 00:05:15.639
he had a lock of black orange
hair, which most caught his attention,
60
00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:20.680
a huge picture with gold ornaments.
In it was the painting of a beautiful
61
00:05:20.800 --> 00:05:30.000
woman with long black hair, extremely
white tea with a viceroyal dress. He
62
00:05:30.040 --> 00:05:34.160
continued to say that the painting seemed
as real to him as if it were
63
00:05:34.160 --> 00:05:39.439
a person, although it was not
exactly that of the lady of the house,
64
00:05:39.920 --> 00:05:43.680
but of someone else. For a
moment she thought it could be about
65
00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:48.079
her mother, because they maintained a
certain resemblance and was the figure of a
66
00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:54.519
mature woman. Everything my cousin told
me seemed surprising because on one occasion I
67
00:05:54.600 --> 00:05:59.199
saw her. When he went to
the market to buy. The lady was
68
00:05:59.279 --> 00:06:03.560
called car Ella was of Spanish descent, as was her husband and three children.
69
00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:10.360
They had three little ones I spent
most of my time with. It
70
00:06:10.439 --> 00:06:15.360
was so much interest that I told
Juan that if at any time Mrs Carmen
71
00:06:15.439 --> 00:06:20.040
needed a domestic employee or a nanny, she would recommend me so that I
72
00:06:20.079 --> 00:06:26.600
could get the job before anyone else, because I wanted to know more about
73
00:06:26.639 --> 00:06:31.120
that family. It didn' t
take long for her husband to get sick.
74
00:06:31.639 --> 00:06:35.959
I did not know what was the
real illness he presented, because at
75
00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:42.079
that time I did not work in
the estate, but I understood it because
76
00:06:42.199 --> 00:06:46.959
the man was older. I'
m sure when they got married she was
77
00:06:46.959 --> 00:06:50.959
barely a child. The age difference
was great. As the man got worse.
78
00:06:51.879 --> 00:06:57.120
That' s when Mrs Carmen asked
for a person to help her with
79
00:06:57.160 --> 00:07:00.120
the care of her husband. He
preferred that he had knowledge of nursing on
80
00:07:00.199 --> 00:07:05.519
one to give him the injections.
The serum would supply her with her medications
81
00:07:05.560 --> 00:07:10.399
and all the care she needed.
The sick John told me that he had
82
00:07:10.439 --> 00:07:15.519
told the lady about me and that
the next day I would introduce myself to
83
00:07:15.720 --> 00:07:19.639
her to give me the job.
He had some knowledge of first aid because
84
00:07:19.839 --> 00:07:25.439
he had studied a technical career in
nursing. That' s why my cousin
85
00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:30.480
immediately recommended me. The next day
I showed up at nine o' clock
86
00:07:30.680 --> 00:07:33.639
in the morning at Mrs Carmen'
s house. Since I entered the room
87
00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:40.879
I could see how striking the furniture
and the paintings were peculiar. I thought
88
00:07:40.920 --> 00:07:46.120
it was his three children, because
there were just three paintings. When I
89
00:07:46.199 --> 00:07:51.319
entered Mrs Carmen' s room,
she greeted me with great kindness. Immediately
90
00:07:51.399 --> 00:07:57.079
I was struck by a gold ring
on the index finger of his left hand.
91
00:07:59.160 --> 00:08:03.319
It had a strange wave symbol with
a red stone. The lady noticed
92
00:08:03.399 --> 00:08:07.360
that I was captivated by her ring
without asking so many questions. He gave
93
00:08:07.399 --> 00:08:11.160
me the job. He told me
that if I was just as responsible and
94
00:08:11.240 --> 00:08:15.639
hardworking as my cousin, I didn' t need any letter of recommendation.
95
00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:20.399
The job was mine, although she
warned me that it was not going to
96
00:08:20.519 --> 00:08:26.040
be easy because her husband was in
very bad conditions. He had already taken
97
00:08:26.120 --> 00:08:30.279
him with doctors from his country and
also when he arrived in our country,
98
00:08:30.439 --> 00:08:35.519
he went with doctors from the capital, but they did not find the cause
99
00:08:35.639 --> 00:08:39.919
of his suffering and every day his
life was gradually extinguished. The lady took
100
00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:43.840
me to her husband. I knew
I wasn' t as young as she
101
00:08:43.879 --> 00:08:48.960
was, but when I saw him
lying in bed, I was an old
102
00:08:48.960 --> 00:08:52.559
man consumed by illness. The skin
was attached to the skeleton, with extreme
103
00:08:52.600 --> 00:08:56.720
paleness and almost hairless. I can' t deny I was surprised to see
104
00:08:56.720 --> 00:09:01.559
him. I knew from the words
of my cousin that I was not well,
105
00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:05.120
that I sometimes saw him roaming the
garden from the distance he worked.
106
00:09:07.080 --> 00:09:11.080
I noticed the difficulty with which I
walked and how sick I was, but
107
00:09:11.200 --> 00:09:16.360
I didn' t imagine that at
such an extreme that same day I was
108
00:09:16.360 --> 00:09:20.519
left to attend to the pattern.
Mrs Carmen gave me the instructions about her
109
00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:24.960
medications and her diet. I went
to the man' s room. He
110
00:09:24.039 --> 00:09:28.399
didn' t even notice my presence. He was asleep for over five hours.
111
00:09:30.039 --> 00:09:33.840
Only one sound came out of his
chest. It was the only sign
112
00:09:33.879 --> 00:09:37.399
that he was still alive. While
the lord slept, I looked out of
113
00:09:37.480 --> 00:09:43.399
the large window overlooking the inner garden
of the house. I saw Mrs Carmen,
114
00:09:43.559 --> 00:09:46.320
who went out for a walk with
her two little ones in her hand.
115
00:09:46.759 --> 00:09:48.399
She was a six- year-
old girl and a four- year
116
00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:52.039
- old. I thought there were
three of them, but I only saw
117
00:09:52.159 --> 00:09:56.799
her with two of them. The
lord began to complain with a grave voice.
118
00:09:58.080 --> 00:10:03.240
He asked me for water but he
barely moistened his lips because he didn
119
00:10:03.240 --> 00:10:07.320
' t want it anymore. It
started with nausea and vomiting a black substance.
120
00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:11.960
It was so fast, I didn' t get a chance to get
121
00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:13.440
a container close so it wouldn'
t get dirty. He had to change
122
00:10:13.480 --> 00:10:20.919
his clothes. As I undressed his
torso, I could see some marks on
123
00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:24.639
his chest and back. They were
strange symbols that were marked with an ink.
124
00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:28.600
When the crisis was over, the
man held me by the hand with
125
00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:35.240
the little strength I had with a
barely understandable voice. He told me to
126
00:10:35.240 --> 00:10:41.399
help me. Please help me.
Of course I am, sir I'
127
00:10:41.399 --> 00:10:43.759
m here to support you in everything
you need. I answered him. He
128
00:10:43.799 --> 00:10:48.080
didn' t let me go and
kept saying the same thing. It was
129
00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:52.279
so much his insistence that it was
necessary that Zafara me by his hand,
130
00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:58.279
that he pressed me tightly immediately,
fell asleep. When they gave me seven
131
00:10:58.320 --> 00:11:01.639
o' clock in the afternoon,
I said goodbye to my shoulder, but
132
00:11:01.679 --> 00:11:07.440
I think he didn' t even
realize my presence, because all the time
133
00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:09.399
he was sunk in a deep sleep. Before I left, I took the
134
00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:16.360
last look at that poor man.
He was truly in deplorable conditions. I
135
00:11:16.440 --> 00:11:18.759
didn' t think he had much
time to live. I said goodbye to
136
00:11:18.840 --> 00:11:24.000
Mrs Carmen and went home. As
I walked down the path to my home.
137
00:11:24.600 --> 00:11:28.120
I couldn' t stop thinking about
him He was a living corpse.
138
00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:33.519
Although his words resonated in my mind, I still had the doubt why he
139
00:11:33.559 --> 00:11:39.159
had asked me for my help in
the morning, very early before the sun
140
00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:45.240
announced his presence. My mother knocked
on the door of my room. He
141
00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:48.639
told me that my cousin, Juan, had gone looking for me immediately.
142
00:11:48.679 --> 00:11:52.919
I got up and told him to
come in. He was upset. He
143
00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:56.919
told me that the gentleman had become
very ill and that Mrs Carmen asked me
144
00:11:56.000 --> 00:12:01.759
to leave as soon as possible to
take care of him, because only I
145
00:12:01.799 --> 00:12:03.919
could inject and put the serum on
him. Without hesitation for a minute.
146
00:12:05.240 --> 00:12:07.600
I got dressed and went with my
cousin to Mrs Carmen' s house.
147
00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:11.759
I can' t deny that that
house, with the darkness of the night,
148
00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:16.720
looked different. I went straight to
the gentleman' s room. In
149
00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:20.000
fact, the man had very open
eyes and tried to remove something nonexistent with
150
00:12:20.039 --> 00:12:26.480
his hands. Mrs Carmen, as
soon as she saw me, smiled gratefully.
151
00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:30.960
He asked me to take care of
him and he left. I tried
152
00:12:31.080 --> 00:12:35.799
to reassure the man by supplying one
of the painkillers the doctor had prescribed,
153
00:12:35.799 --> 00:12:39.480
but as soon as he saw me, he grabbed me again from my hand
154
00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:43.919
and did not release it. Again
he asked me for help, I no
155
00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:48.480
longer answered him, because it seemed
that he did not understand with compassion.
156
00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:54.240
I changed it because it had a
bad smell. I found it strange because
157
00:12:54.320 --> 00:12:58.120
the day before I had changed it. As I took his clothes off,
158
00:12:58.559 --> 00:13:03.000
I could notice his extreme thinness without
saying anything. I did everything I needed.
159
00:13:05.399 --> 00:13:09.120
In a few minutes he fell asleep
deeply, which gave me the opportunity
160
00:13:09.320 --> 00:13:13.799
to go out for a while to
walk around the house. Although I knew
161
00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:16.279
there were two children in the house, I hardly saw them. I only
162
00:13:16.360 --> 00:13:22.679
occasionally heard his laughs around the house, but very rarely I could see them.
163
00:13:24.480 --> 00:13:28.240
That morning, the lady asked me
to go talk to her to tell
164
00:13:28.279 --> 00:13:31.679
me she needed my services at night. If she was in my position,
165
00:13:33.080 --> 00:13:37.240
she asked me to stay and take
care of her husband because during the night
166
00:13:37.320 --> 00:13:41.480
she needed medicine and support. He
offered me a big paycheck, which I
167
00:13:41.559 --> 00:13:46.679
couldn' t refuse. I only
asked him to give me a chance to
168
00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:50.320
warn my family and go get a
change of clothes, as I was not
169
00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:56.000
ready to stay day and night.
The lady told me that it was not
170
00:13:56.000 --> 00:13:58.759
necessary, I had already told my
cousin to tell my family and my clothes.
171
00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:05.080
I didn' t have to worry
I had a lot in the closet
172
00:14:05.080 --> 00:14:09.679
I could use the one I needed. From that day on I stayed full
173
00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:13.240
time at the lady' s house
The first night I felt strange in a
174
00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:18.200
house that was not my own.
Sir was asleep most of the time.
175
00:14:20.960 --> 00:14:24.120
Since I couldn' t sleep,
I stood by the window to the horizon.
176
00:14:24.759 --> 00:14:28.240
There was no moon, so it
was not possible to see anything,
177
00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:33.480
just an extended blackness. Suddenly I
heard the sound of someone outside in the
178
00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:37.440
yard. No matter how hard I
tried my eyesight. I couldn' t
179
00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:41.240
see anything until I saw a woman
dressed in white. I could only see
180
00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:46.600
his clothes. I assumed it was
Mrs Carmen. I carefully opened the window
181
00:14:46.679 --> 00:14:52.559
to the balcony. That way it
would have a little visibility, as only
182
00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:56.279
a pale light gave its flash from
the corridor. It was when I realized
183
00:14:56.399 --> 00:15:03.440
that she was Mrs Ca walking towards
the back door of the house to the
184
00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:07.440
room, the sound of the gnashing
of the wood came. When I opened
185
00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:13.480
the gate I immediately lost sight of
her I no longer saw her return,
186
00:15:13.799 --> 00:15:16.519
because the lord began to cough in
a way that almost drowned. I picked
187
00:15:16.679 --> 00:15:20.840
him up so he wouldn' t
drown, but he started throwing up blood.
188
00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:26.399
When the lord was able to re- establish himself from the episode so
189
00:15:26.440 --> 00:15:30.759
strong he had, it gave me
the impression that he regained some sense,
190
00:15:30.919 --> 00:15:35.519
because before I gave him the injection
with his hand, he told me to
191
00:15:35.639 --> 00:15:41.039
stop and he could speak slowly and
with a trembling voice, but I came
192
00:15:41.080 --> 00:15:43.879
to understand what he meant me,
no longer do it. He asked me
193
00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:48.600
not to give him the medicine to
let him rest. I knew I was
194
00:15:48.919 --> 00:15:52.120
leaving very soon and I wanted to
do it. Conscious was all he could
195
00:15:52.200 --> 00:15:58.360
tell me, as he opened his
eyes as he looked toward the window.
196
00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:04.080
There was someone there. I can' t describe exactly what I saw because
197
00:16:04.200 --> 00:16:10.159
it was very dark, but it
was a floating spectrum that only lasted a
198
00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:14.279
few seconds and left. The man
got very nervous and started screaming. He
199
00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:18.600
didn' t have the strength to
do it with a loud voice and began
200
00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:23.279
to pull off the little hair he
had left, although he had promised him
201
00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:26.799
that he would no longer inject it. I had to do it because he
202
00:16:27.320 --> 00:16:32.559
got deranged and didn' t want
the lady to wake up and scold me
203
00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:36.240
for not giving him her meds in
time. Within a few minutes he fell
204
00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:41.320
deeply asleep with that noise that he
made when breathing the dream. I had
205
00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:45.399
been absent because of the mixed feelings
I had. Besides, that' s
206
00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:49.480
when I could think about what I' d seen. I walked out of
207
00:16:49.559 --> 00:16:55.480
the gentleman' s room with the
candlelight I was walking down the halls.
208
00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:57.879
I didn' t understand why I
had the instinct to go into the room.
209
00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:03.359
Better. I wouldn' t have
done it because those huge paintings that
210
00:17:03.359 --> 00:17:07.319
were hanging on the walls were empty. I could no longer see them,
211
00:17:08.359 --> 00:17:14.640
because the noise of the lock indicated
that someone was coming from outside. I
212
00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:18.880
turned off the candle and hid behind
the clock. When I saw her,
213
00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:22.480
she was Mrs Carmen, dressed in
a white nightgown and with her hair,
214
00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:27.319
she looked so different. I was
sure it was her, because I sensed
215
00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:33.480
the scent of her perfume. As
soon as the lady retired to her chamber
216
00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:37.519
I took advantage to do the same. Before I did, I looked again
217
00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:41.920
at the paintings, and the people
were already in their respective painting. It
218
00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:45.440
was so much fear that I was
left paralyzed for a few seconds without being
219
00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:52.039
able to move. At that moment
I noticed that the woman in the painting
220
00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:56.079
blinked and made a slight smile.
I couldn' t take that anymore I
221
00:17:56.160 --> 00:18:03.119
ran into Mr Tremenda' s room. When I saw Mrs Carmen inside the
222
00:18:03.160 --> 00:18:07.640
room, she stared at me without
asking me anything, I told her I
223
00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:11.960
was going out for a drink of
water. It was only a few seconds
224
00:18:12.039 --> 00:18:17.119
when I left the gentleman alone.
She didn' t answer me, she
225
00:18:17.160 --> 00:18:22.559
just felt and left. I checked
the Lord' s vital signs he was
226
00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:27.960
afraid that she would have done something
to him, but He did not keep
227
00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:32.559
sleeping deeply because of the sedative I
injected him with. I didn' t
228
00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:36.880
want to be in that house anymore. They had very strange customs and I
229
00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:41.240
didn' t feel safe. The
next day I' d tell Mrs Carmen
230
00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:47.359
that I could work during the day, but I wasn' t going to
231
00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:49.720
do it at night. If I
agreed, I kept working with her.
232
00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:53.880
If I wouldn' t leave.
As for daylight, he lit up the
233
00:18:55.119 --> 00:19:00.680
room, went out to talk to
the lady. She' s in the
234
00:19:00.839 --> 00:19:04.960
room reading a book, with her
hair picked up, with her characteristic elegance,
235
00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:08.440
she didn' t look like the
same woman the night before. I
236
00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:14.839
told him I couldn' t keep
working at night, contrary to what I
237
00:19:14.839 --> 00:19:18.319
expected. She smiled and didn'
t even ask me for an explanation.
238
00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:22.279
He told me he was fine.
I just wanted to ask one last favor,
239
00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:26.880
to stay that night to take care
of the lord because I couldn'
240
00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:30.480
t find someone else to supply me
the next day. I wouldn' t
241
00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:34.200
do it anymore. I didn'
t want to stay a minute longer when
242
00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:40.759
the shadows of the night became present, because that house became something sinister.
243
00:19:41.359 --> 00:19:45.519
But I also owed my cousin Juan
the favor and he couldn' t look
244
00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:51.119
bad. I replied that I would, although it would only be that night.
245
00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:59.400
Mrs Carmen smiled gratefully, got up
and went to her room. In
246
00:19:59.400 --> 00:20:03.839
the morning I was looking for my
cousin Juan. I wanted him to tell
247
00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:08.039
me what else he had noticed about
the lady, but for some strange reason
248
00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:14.480
I couldn' t find him in
the distance. He listened to the workers
249
00:20:14.599 --> 00:20:19.200
lifting the fence of wood while the
masons made the mixture for the fence.
250
00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:25.720
But my cousin didn' t see
him anywhere. I couldn' t keep
251
00:20:25.880 --> 00:20:29.680
looking for him anymore because the lord
came out of his deep sleep. He
252
00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:33.920
asked me for some water. With
little strength left, he grabbed my hand
253
00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:38.279
and did not release it carefully.
I pulled it out. I approached her
254
00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:42.319
ear and told her that I knew
something bad was going on in the house,
255
00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:48.279
but I couldn' t know what. I wouldn' t have said
256
00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:53.839
that to the man because he opened
his eyes disproportionately and wanted to talk,
257
00:20:55.400 --> 00:20:57.079
but the words didn' t come
out of his mouth. Just a few
258
00:20:57.079 --> 00:21:03.240
sounds, as if Mrs Carmen realized
that. He went into the room.
259
00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:08.680
Unannounced, he touched the forehead and
face of Mr Smiling. He told her
260
00:21:08.759 --> 00:21:15.240
that today was the special day and
left the room immediately after the lady left.
261
00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:19.480
He was very restless. You could
tell he wanted to tell me something,
262
00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:22.799
but it wasn' t possible.
His forces were no longer enough.
263
00:21:25.160 --> 00:21:29.880
Most of the day he was asleep. I was afraid that night would come,
264
00:21:30.599 --> 00:21:33.759
but I had no choice. I
decided not to leave the gentleman'
265
00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:37.599
s room at all. I'
d stay there and take care of him
266
00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:41.880
and protect him. When the darkness
of the night was total, I began
267
00:21:41.880 --> 00:21:48.480
to hear murmurs in other rooms of
the house, as if there were more
268
00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:52.880
people inside. He had promised me
not to go out at all and I
269
00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:57.400
fulfilled it after midnight. The murmurs
were louder. The lord began to get
270
00:21:57.440 --> 00:22:03.440
restless. He was moving a lot. He tried to talk without getting it
271
00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:08.680
within a few minutes. She died
before going to Mrs Carmen to tell her
272
00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:14.039
about her husband' s death.
I swelled to pray one last prayer for
273
00:22:14.119 --> 00:22:18.799
that man, for all the time
I felt compassion for him. I asked
274
00:22:18.920 --> 00:22:22.920
for the rest of his soul.
When I heard a strange sound, I
275
00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:27.400
saw the silhouette of a young man. It seemed to be the soul of
276
00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:33.839
the lord because I could distinguish the
same sad look. He stayed for a
277
00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:37.440
few seconds looking at his body and
looked at me. I was petrified from
278
00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:42.440
fear. I couldn' t move
out to tell Mrs Carmen, but it
279
00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:49.400
wasn' t necessary because she came
in with her long loose black hair carrying
280
00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:52.640
a bottle with her. I have
no idea how he did it, but
281
00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:57.720
I saw when the lord' s
spirit got inside the glass container, she
282
00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:03.319
covered it up, missed a cork
and left. I didn' t know
283
00:23:03.400 --> 00:23:07.240
what to do or think. The
only thing that occurred to me was to
284
00:23:07.359 --> 00:23:11.880
stay still inside the room, next
to the man' s body, where
285
00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:18.200
his factions were relaxing outside the room. I was able to distinguish screams and
286
00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:22.640
murmurs from more women. I didn' t want to think anymore, but
287
00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:27.000
I was pretty sure they were the
people inside the paintings. It would be
288
00:23:27.119 --> 00:23:30.079
a lie if I said I could
sleep that night. Every time I looked
289
00:23:30.119 --> 00:23:34.920
at the Lord, disturbing thoughts came
to my mind. I thought that at
290
00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:41.880
any moment he could get up and
go out to meet Mrs Carmen, but
291
00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:47.519
then I remembered that she put her
spirit into a bottle and I was afraid
292
00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:51.400
that that woman would approach me,
because the same thing could happen to me.
293
00:23:51.880 --> 00:23:56.960
Only after two hours did the silence
become present. Everything was completely calm.
294
00:23:57.839 --> 00:24:03.720
I could tell when the lady approached
the door I heard her heels walking
295
00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:10.200
on the wooden floor stood for a
few seconds. It was the longest time
296
00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:15.480
I had inside that house when I
heard his steps were moving away. I
297
00:24:15.559 --> 00:24:21.759
was able to breathe calmly because even
my breath was contained in fear that he
298
00:24:21.880 --> 00:24:26.440
would realize that I was awake as
soon as dawn or I left the room
299
00:24:26.519 --> 00:24:32.359
to go home. In the hallway
I met Mrs Carmen. She looked brighter
300
00:24:32.440 --> 00:24:37.359
and prettier. I could swear I
was younger. He gave me my corresponding
301
00:24:37.640 --> 00:24:42.359
salary and I walked away from that
house that I had never intended to return
302
00:24:42.359 --> 00:24:47.079
to. On the way back I
met my cousin Juan. As soon as
303
00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:49.559
I saw him I ran to hug
him. I told him that the lord
304
00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:55.759
had died and that Mrs Carmen was
very strange. Juan asked me to calm
305
00:24:55.839 --> 00:25:00.359
down. He said he understood me
very well. Spending all night with a
306
00:25:00.440 --> 00:25:06.599
corpse was not pleasant at all.
Besides, I interrupted him to tell him
307
00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:11.079
that he had seen him die and
so did his soul. Juan listened to
308
00:25:11.119 --> 00:25:15.960
me attentively, although he noticed that
he did not understand me at all.
309
00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:19.240
I left Mrs Carmen' s hacienda
with a bad taste in my mouth.
310
00:25:19.880 --> 00:25:23.720
Before I went home, I went
to my grandfather' s house. I
311
00:25:23.880 --> 00:25:29.119
had a need to talk to him. My grandfather was watering the plants in
312
00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:32.759
his garden. He saw me in
the distance and smiled. I ran to
313
00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:37.720
hug him. He missed my hug
almost crying. I told her that Mrs
314
00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:41.440
Carmen was a witch who was right. When she told me about that woman
315
00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:48.119
who came into town many years ago, Mrs Carmen was probably another one.
316
00:25:48.599 --> 00:25:52.359
My grandfather was surprised by what I
told him. He asked me to tell
317
00:25:52.440 --> 00:25:57.920
him every single detail. Then he
kept thinking for a few minutes to tell
318
00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:03.240
me everything was possible. That woman
could be a descendant of the same woman
319
00:26:03.319 --> 00:26:08.319
who told me. She just told
me to be very careful with Mrs Carmen
320
00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:14.720
and stay away from her. At
Mrs Carmen' s house, her husband
321
00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:18.680
' s funeral was held. As
was the custom, very few people attended,
322
00:26:19.079 --> 00:26:25.079
since the lady was very little related
to the inhabitants. I kept out
323
00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:30.640
of fear, but it didn'
t all end there. Mrs Carmen went
324
00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:33.640
on with her life. I can' t say that I know what she
325
00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:38.359
did after her husband' s death, because I preferred to stay away from
326
00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:42.599
her, but over the months she
married a young man from a neighboring village.
327
00:26:44.119 --> 00:26:48.680
Everything was done with great discretion in
the village. He was said to
328
00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:56.480
be younger than her. I cannot
deny that I was curious to meet him
329
00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:59.759
at a time when I went to
the village square, Mrs Carmen was going
330
00:26:59.799 --> 00:27:03.799
to r his arm. It was
strange that he went out and showed up.
331
00:27:03.319 --> 00:27:07.839
With the passing of the days in
the village the rumor began to spread
332
00:27:07.960 --> 00:27:12.240
that Mrs Carmen' s husband had
become ill and that he was asking for
333
00:27:12.359 --> 00:27:15.960
the services of someone who could help. From that time when I learned about
334
00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:21.880
that man' s illness, he
was rarely seen until, once I went
335
00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:25.640
to do a job very close to
Mrs Carmen' s estate, I could
336
00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:32.799
not contain myself and went to the
main gate. From there you could see
337
00:27:32.839 --> 00:27:37.119
the inner courtyard of the house.
It was surprising to see him in a
338
00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:41.319
pitiful state. He looked so thin. I left the house fleeing the place
339
00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:45.799
with the latent fear, thinking that
she could realize my presence in her house,
340
00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:51.839
I walked away as quickly as I
could ever return to the place.
341
00:27:55.880 --> 00:28:00.200
Story written and adapted by Adriana Cuevas
a








