CHÍA'S NARRATION
The sound of dripping water wakes me up. It seems that the Mohan used more of his awful smoke on me. Wait, wasn't he supposed to beat me up? Oh well. I'm not complaining... Ugh, gods! My head is killing me. How long have I been unconscious? It feels like more than a year or something. Besides the dripping water, the only other sound I hear is the horrible snoring from the creature.
̅ Umm, excuse me... – says a female voice –are you okay?
̅ Huh? Seems like I'm not the only one here. – I reply.
I move my hand around, trying to reach the other woman, but I can't find her. My senses feel kind of wonky right now. That smoke is still affecting me.
̅ There, let me help you. – says the woman while taking my hand.
It's a delicate hand, cold, a little bony, and weak. It seems like she hasn't eaten in some time. She sounds scared, but also kind and worried about me. I can feel she is a good woman… ¡You, damn monster! You feel so powerful harming helpless people? ¡I swear to Bochica I will end you and free these women!
I try to regain my strength and stand up, but then I notice that my ankle is chained. Guess I'm not leaving this room easily.
̅ It's no use – says the woman –we're trapped here until the Mohan changes his mind and lets us return to the jail with the other women. I've been here for days now... I hope my daughter is okay.
̅ Oh, right. A little girl said the Mohan took her mother a couple of days ago. Don't worry. She's fine. She just ate, and the other women are taking good care of her.
̅ Oh, thank gods! That's a relief!
̅ Listen, this may not look like it, but I'm here to save you all. But I need your help. I have to make the Mohan sleep.
̅ Huh? Well, he is sleeping right now.
̅ No. I mean, deeply asleep. Pretty much unconscious. I have the power to do so (or at least I hope I still have it), but I need to touch his head. Can you help me get close to him? I can hear his snore, but I feel kind of dizzy to actually locate his position.
̅ Well, I could help you. But I don't think I can. He's located on the opposite side of the room, and our chains are too short to let us move.
̅ Damn!
Okay, nobody said it would be easy, but I have to do it somehow. I sit down and start inhaling and exhaling slowly. I need to calm down. I need to recover my senses... inhale... exhale... inhale... exhale... C'mon, Chía. These people need you... inhale... I smell moss, vegetation, water. We're still near the river... exhale... I can feel the big presence of the Mohan. He's in front of me... inhale... I can hear the woman's heart beating. She's nervous... exhale... Now I can hear the Mohan's. He's relaxed. He knows he's in control, and no one can escape from him. He can allow himself to sleep this tranquil... inhale... the sound of his snore. He's sleeping at sides, giving us his back. If only I could reach his head… exhale…. After some minutes, my senses are back.
I stand up and try to reach him, but the woman was right. The chain is too short. It's impossible to do it. I need to get free from this shackle.
̅ I need to get free from this shackle. – I whisper.
̅ It's impossible without the key. – replies the woman.
̅ And I guess he has it.
̅ Indeed. Deep inside his beard.
I touch around the floor, searching for something that could help us, but I find nothing.
̅ There's nothing around here but branches and rocks. – says the woman.
̅ Branches and rocks... branches and rocks... *sigh*... well, that'll do.
I keep moving my hands around the floor until I find a big rock and a long branch.
̅ Listen, umm...
̅ Andrea. My name is Andrea.
̅ Ok, hello, Andrea. My name is Chía. Now listen carefully. I know you're weak. But I'll ask you again. Can you help me move?
̅ I told you. We can't reach the Mohan. The chains are too short.
̅ Just answer the question, Andrea.
̅ *sigh* yes, I can. But that rock and branch you just got are not strong enough to break the shackle. Trust me, I tried.
̅ Maybe not the shackle, but...
I put the branch in my mouth and bite it as hard as I can.
̅ Wh-What are you planning to do?
̅ *Trying to speak with the branch in my mouth* Breaking me free.
And so, with a strong and fast swing, I hit my ankle with the rock, breaking it instantly. Words cannot describe how painful this is. I bit the branch so hard, trying not to scream that I broke it. I can hear Andrea covering her mouth in horror, trying not to scream either. But she keeps quiet... I was lucky to break my ankle with a single hit; otherwise, I don't know if the pain could let me continue. I want to scream. I want to scream so hard! The pain is so strong I'm about to lose consciousness, but I mustn't... I have to help them! I free my foot from the shackle and put my shaking hand around Andrea's cheek. I can feel her tears wetting my fingers. "Be... ready" are the only words I can pronounce.
I start to sweat... this is cold sweat... my mouth... my mouth tastes like mud and blood. That branch hurt my mouth... Don't think about the pain. Don't think about the pain, Chía! You got work to do!
I slowly crawl toward the Mohan. I'm getting close. I can smell his reek. I can hear Andrea whispering that I'm getting closer. Suddenly, the Mohan moves. He gave us a scare to death, but luckily, he's still asleep. I get closer and I can finally feel his beard. I can feel something hard... it's the key! I slowly take it and throw it toward Andrea. Moments later, I can hear her unlocking the shackle. She tries to get close to me, but I move my hand, telling her to stop... okay, Sugunsua, I hope you gave me this power back too.
I crawl next to the Mohan's head. I sit down and, slowly, locate it on my thighs while I put my hands around it, and then, I whisper...
̅ "Dream breath."
Suddenly, the Mohan exhales a deep breath. I can feel his body getting extremely relaxed, almost as if his muscles were melting on me. No doubt about it: The Mohan is unconscious now.
OFELIA'S NARRATION
The cave trembles, and I hear the sound of branches and leaves cracking in the distance...
̅ You heard that? – I say – Let's check!
̅ Wait! – yells one of the women –If you leave this jail, the Mohan will find you and kill you!
̅ He said he would let us go to the bathroom, didn't he? Besides, remember what Miss Chía said? She said that she would make the creature open an exit for us, and it sounds like she did it. Let's go!
̅ Oh, now you're trusting the words of a random girl? – says another woman.
̅ We are all random girls. Besides, we don't have any other choice, do we?
The women are really scared, but, without any other option, they accept and come with me to find where the noise came from.
We move all around the cave, trying to find a possible exit. It doesn't take too long when…
̅ Look! – says one of the women –There's an exit!
The women scream full of joy but immediately shut up to avoid warning the Mohan. We hurry up to the exit and so, we are finally free. This nightmare is almost over. We'd better hurry up!
̅ Wait, we can't leave my mom behind! – cries the little girl.
̅ Little girl. I'm sorry if I sound cruel, but it has been 2 days now. The Mohan probably killed your mom. – says a woman.
̅ Don't say that! My mom is ok, I can't leave her behind!
Some women try to convince the little girl to escape and leave her mom behind. Some say that that's what her mom would want her to do. Some others say that she can rot with her if she wants to, and some others just escape without saying a word... I can't say I blame them, but the little girl is right. We can't leave her mother behind and neither Miss Chía, who helped us to finally escape... the exit is just in front of me... mother and father must be worried sick... but I can't... I can't leave them behind... Mother, father. Please forgive me, but you have to wait a little longer for me. I kneel and put my hand on the little girl's head.
̅ Little girl. We've been trapped here for so long, and yet, we were so scared to even do a proper introduction. My name is Ofelia. What's your name?
̅ *sniff* ... Sara.
̅ Hear me out, little Sara. You're right. We're not leaving your mother behind. I promise you that. But I cannot do it if you don't escape with these women.
̅ Wait, what?! Are you crazy?! –the women complain –The Mohan is going to kill you.
I don't pay attention and continue talking to Sara.
̅ Y-You mean it? – says little Sara.
̅ Pinky promise, sweet child… But now you have to promise me that you'll escape from here and wait for your mom at home, ok?
̅ ... Pinky promise.
We both make a pinky promise, and Sara takes the hand of one of the women.
̅ Ofelia, was it? – says the woman that takes Sara's hand –Are you sure about this?
̅ My parents taught me that helping people is not a choice but a responsibility. I can't go back and look them in the eyes knowing that I didn't do anything to save everyone... Please, take care of the child.
̅ ... We'll return with help. I promise. – says the woman.
̅ Thank you very much. – I reply.
And so, all women escape, leaving me behind... Ok, time to save them all.
CHÍA'S NARRATION
We managed to escape the Mohan's room with Andrea carrying me on her back. I feel she's struggling but still manages to move quite fast despite not having eaten for days and being too weak. Bochica, you were right. Humans are more than meets the eye. They may not be as powerful as gods, but they still can accomplish many feats when they put their heart in it... Bachué, Sugunsua. I'm so sorry for hurt and corrupt your children's hearts so badly.
̅ Thank you, Andrea. – I weakly say.
̅ Please, don't thank me – replies Andrea –. It was sumercé who set us free. Now it's my turn to find an exit. By the way, may I ask how could you do that trick on the Mohan?
̅ Oh, that? Well, I am... was a goddess. This is one of the many tricks I can do. You would be surprised at what I can do once I regain my full power.
̅ A goddess, huh? Then you have my most sincere gratitude, and I promise my daughter and I will make a shrine in your honor.
By the tone of her voice, I know she doesn't believe what I said, but it doesn't matter at the moment. At least her gratitude sounded sincere. Besides, I'm not looking to be worshiped. I just want to atone for my sins. Let's hope that a broken ankle is a good start.
We keep looking for an exit. If my power was at its fullest, the Mohan would be unconscious for as long as I want, but with this little fraction, I don't know how long will it take before he wakes up from his trance.
Suddenly, we hear a voice from the distance...
̅ There you are! – says the voice.
̅ It's one of the women that were trapped! – Yells Andrea.
̅ Thank gods, you are ok! Sorry I didn't have time to introduce myself properly. My name is Ofelia, and...
̅ Yeah, yeah. Don't worry – I interrupt –. What are you doing here? Where's the rest?
̅ They managed to escape, Miss Chía! You saved us!
̅ My daughter! Is she alright? – says Andrea.
̅ Yeah, don't worry. Sara's fine. She managed to escape with the rest of the women. But now we have to hurry! Oh, my gods! Miss Chía, your foot!
̅ No time to worry about that now, Ofelia! Lead us to the exit, quickly! – I say.
With Ofelia's help, we move faster, right towards the exit...
̅ Look, there it is! – says Ofelia.
But suddenly, in the distance, we hear a powerful roar. No doubt about it: The Mohan has awakened from his trance.
̅ YOU'RE NOT GETTING AWAY FROM ME! – yells the creature from the distance.
As soon as we hear the Mohan, the exit slowly starts to close. We are so close, yet so far.
̅ Leave me behind! – I scream –I'm just slowing you down!
̅ NO! WE'RE ALL LEAVING! – replies both Ofelia and Andrea.
The creature is viciously approaching while we're getting closer to the exit.
̅ Oh, gods! – cries Andrea – We're not gonna make it!
̅ Yes, we will! Keep moving! – replies Ofelia.
̅ I SAID, YOU'RE LEAVING, NOW!! – I scream.
Suddenly, despite my broken foot, and using what remains of my energy and a quick boost of adrenaline, I release from the women's arms, I grab them, and I throw them right to the exit.
̅ CHÍA!! – yells Andrea.
̅ MISS CHÍA!! – yells Ofelia.
Unfortunately, it's too late. Only Andrea manages to be freed. The entrance closes, trapping Ofelia and myself in the Mohan's lair.
̅ I'm sorry, child – I say –. I couldn't save you.
̅ Don't worry, Miss Chía – replies Ofelia while moving me behind her – Now I will protect you.
̅ I'm having a feast with your corpses! – says the Mohan.
TO BE CONTINUED...