(For every chapter, there is a song to go with the vibe of the chapter next to the cover on top of you'd like to listen while reading. <3)
Trigger Warning: Murder
-Maya-
Fifteen years ago. Guadalajara, Mexico.
“Please!” I whined to Papi. “It’s midnight, mi reina.” “I won’t tell Mami, I promise.” My Papi stared at me with those serious eyes. I gave him puppy eyes, a pouty lip – a masterpiece I’d learned was his weakness.
“Okay, fine. But just one more time.” He said, lifting his index finger. I clapped my hands as Papi made his way to my guitar. He started playing my favorite song.
‘Photograph’ by Ed Sheeran.
The notes calmed me in my bed. Papi hummed the lyrics as I swayed to the melody.
“Shouldn’t you be asleep?” Mami said from the doorframe. “I just wanted to hear it una vez más.” I whined. Mami smiled and sat beside me as Papi played the last few notes.
“Goodnight, mi reina.” Papi said, kissing my forehead. “Goodnight, Maya.” Mami rubbed my head. They both left my room, and I slowly drifted to sleep.
3:26 AM
I woke to the sound of glass breaking. I rubbed my eyes and turned on my bedside lamp. Mami’s screams filled the house. I was scared. Mami and Papi had told me: if anything bad ever happens, hide and stay hidden until they came for me.
I ran to my closet and closed the door. I hid behind boxes, clutching Mr. Williams, my teddy bear.
My Papi begged. “Amor! Please, don’t do this!” I heard my Papi scream.
A long bang rang through the walls. I couldn’t hear my parents anymore. Silence. It felt like acid rising in my throat.
Footsteps came up the stairs. My door burst open. A tall figure stood in my nightstand, slamming a hand against my lamp, shattering it. Another figure entered the room.
“Stop messing around. Where’s the daughter?” “I don’t know, she isn’t here.” Two men talked back and forth. I pressed my hand over my mouth, hiding with Mr. Williams. “She might be with the older brother, wasn’t he out with friends?” “Doesn’t matter. We got the job done. Let’s go.” The men walked out.
The front door slammed shut, and silence returned. I slowly took my hand from my mouth, but I didn’t dare move. I waited for Mami or Papi to come get me.
Time passed. It felt like eternity. The house remained quiet, the usual warmth replaced by coldness.
The front door opened again. “Maya?” Santiago yelled from downstairs. His voice cut off for a second, and my heart raced.
Santiago’s cries echoed through the house. “No! Mama, Papa!” He sounded broken. I pushed the boxes in my closet, but one tumbled over.
“Who’s there?” Santiago yelled. I stopped moving. Loud thumps hit each stair. I leaned against the boxes as Santiago rushed into my room. “Maya?” He looked around, not finding me.
I opened my closet door and ran to my brother. “Santi, I’m scared!” His arms wrapped around me, protecting me. “Thank God you’re okay.” His sniffles made my heart ache, his tears landing on my forehead.
“Donde estan Mami y Papi?” (Where are Mom and Dad?) I asked. Santiago cried again, pulling me closer.
A wet feeling bloomed on the back of my shirt. I pulled away from our hug and felt my back. When I looked at my hands, red stained them. I looked at Santiago’s hands, also painted red.
“Santi?” I lifted my head to see him looking at my hands. A tear ran down his right cheek. “We need to leave, Maya.” He went to my dresser and started stuffing clothes into trash bags. “Santi, what’s going on?” I asked, terrified. He didn’t answer. “Sant-.”
“Someone killed Mom and Dad, Maya. They’re dead!” He yelled. My heart shattered into a million pieces. My eyes felt heavy as tears formed.
Santiago went to his room and packed his things. I walked downstairs and flicked on the hallway light. Red paint, no, Blood. A trail from the hallway to the living room stretched before me. I slowly followed it, and the closer I got, the more I wanted to run.
I stood in the doorway, my body numb. Mami and Papi lay on the ground, lifeless. I ran to them and held Mami in my arms. “Please don’t leave me.” I cried. Tears streamed down her face, but nothing. They were gone.
“Please, Mami. Take me instead!” I cried out. I loved my parents too much to go on without them. I wanted to be with them. Her skin was cold as ice, pale from its usual tan glow.
Santiago grabbed me and lifted me off the ground. “Let’s go.” He said, his voice harsh. Before we left, I took Mami and Papi’s hands and interlocked them. One last time.
Me and Santiago ran out of the house with trash bags over our shoulders. We ran through woods and across train tracks, not knowing where we were going.
Santiago grabbed my wrist and pulled me to run faster. We hit water, and I shivered from the cold. Swimming wasn’t my best hobby. “Hurry up, or La Llorna is going to get you.” My brother said. I swam faster, nearly passing him.
We made it out of the water and back onto land. We hit more dirt and trees, indicating another forest.
We kept running until daylight. We had no idea where we were. We had no family nearby. We didn’t know how far we’d go until we were safe. An eight-year-old girl and a ten-year-old boy, running from their once-loved home.