Minutes before 8 p.m., the agreed time, Azeneth runs to the Evans' house.

  At the entrance gate are Azael and Carlota talking. As soon as he sees her approaching, Azael takes his bicycle and says a few words to Carlota that she can't hear, saying goodbye to his girlfriend as he walks away.

  ―You almost didn't make it ―Carlota welcomes her as she crosses the gate―. Victor doesn't like unpunctuality.

  ―I'm sorry.

  ―Let's go ―she beckons her to follow her into the house―. Go put on lighter clothes and go down to the basement. We’ll be waiting there.

  ―Ok, thank you.

  In the basement, the entrance to the doctor's study is open.

  Azeneth takes a breath and, gathering courage, takes the first step inside.

  ―Good night ―says the doctor, who is tidying up one of the shelves.

  ―Good evening.

  ―Are you ready? Want to get started now?

  Azeneth looks around. The previous occasion she hadn’t had time to pay attention to the large room. Sitting in a small armchair, Carlota looks at her.

  But you're getting distracted.

  ―… Yes, I'm ready.

  ―Well, sit there, please.

  ―On the table?

  ―Yes.

  She nods and climbs onto the long old wooden table.

  She is uneasy, as she was when she was little and went to her routine consultations at the hospital and sat at the bar of the office with the fear that something, again, was wrong.

  You're just nervous, everything it's okay.

  The doctor approaches her.

  ―Usually, in order to work, I need to put a mark on you, but this time I'll use the scar from your surgery, if that’s ok for you.

  ―A mark?... like Solum's… ―Azeneth murmurs, and Carlota manages to hear her.

  ―How do you know that Solum has a Victor’s mark? ―she asks.

  ―Well... he showed it to me...

  Carlota looks at her, perplexed. She doesn’t answer anything because the doctor continues his explanation:

  ―My niece is here to make you feel comfortable. If at any point you want to stop or feel bad, just say it, got it?

  ―Yes, got it.

  ―I'll put one of my hands on your head and the other near your scar, I'll say a few words and that'll be it, don't be scared, please.

  ―I understand.

  ―Your hands at your sides.

  ―Like this?

  The doctor doesn't answer, staring at the bracelet on Azeneth's wrist.

  ―Oh... Carlota lent it to me... that day at se?or Eugenio’s house... if I must return it to her-

  ―No, she did well. You’ll need it.

  Carlota just sinks into the armchair, scrolling on her cell phone.

  ―Take a deep breath and close your eyes ―Victor tells her and raises his hands to her.

  Azeneth obeys. She feels a finger touching her forehead and suddenly, despite having her eyes closed, an intense light that breaks down into circles and flashes stuns her.

  Open your eyes!

  No, don't. It will be worse.

  ―I need you to think of a place where you feel safe.

  Azeneth hears her own voice uttering words without her permission:

  ―… In my dreams, where there is calm... under the moon that I can't see but it keeps me warm... At the door, where the wind hits me in the face.

  Victor, summarizing what she has said, pronounces forcefully:

  ―Peaceful dream, soft moon, north wind. Peaceful dream, soft moon, north wind. Peaceful dream, soft moon, north wind. Peaceful dream, soft moon, north wind. Repeat now.

  ―… Peaceful dream, soft moon, north wind.

  The light increases its intensity, and a sensation... as if something stuck in her throat suffocates her.

  ―Peaceful dream, soft moon, north wind.

  She feels something inside her chest that is going to explode, something growing and pushing her viscera to make space for itself.

  ―Peaceful dream, soft moon, north wind.

  ―Peaceful dream, s-soft moon… north wind.

  ―Whenever you need to, speak these words and you will be safe. Open your eyes.

  Azeneth opens them and Victor lowers his arms.

  She tries to look up but her eyes hurt, as if that light inside her eyelids had been real. She is dizzy and short of breath.

  ―Don't worry, it will pass.

  Azeneth turns her stomach. The doctor steps aside. He strokes her back while helping her bend over.

  ―It's normal, don't worry.

  She hadn't noticed that Carlota is next to her with a towel.

  ―I can't... breathe...

  ―I'll put you to sleep for a while. When you wake up you’ll feel better ―the doctor tells her. Touches her head―. Rest.

  And everything goes dark.

  Years before, in the small house where they lived next to the Clinic, Serván and Alan spent the Saturday night playing cards and drinking a few warm beers.

  Several days of incessant rains lashed the Mountain and the electricity had gone out ―as was very frequent― so they were secluded in the kitchen by the light of a kerosene lamp. There was a small power plant, but it was only for the Clinic, where Santos was standing guard.

  For a moment the wind blew so hard that water began to enter through the window. Alan got up to close it and took the opportunity to take a look at the landscape.

  ―Oh, how delicious it smells, pure grass. Not like in the city, where when it rains it smells of drainage.

  ―It reminds me of the storms back in my house in the country.

  ―Does it look like here? ―Alan asks, sitting down again.

  ―Oh, no, just the smell... I mean, it's also a rural area, but there at home everything is a huge valley, not like here where it's pure mountains... You must go one day.

  ―Don't even remind me. We always say we are going to go and we never organize a trip.

  ―We should go after graduation. My mother is going to adore you guys and my father will take you on walks all over the area. And my brother is an asshole, but he's a splendid guy, he's going to receive you well. And my aunts are going to spoil you...

  ―Is there a place to stay?

  ―Of course! Our house is humble, but big, there is plenty of space. You’ll go to the back room, because you snore like a wretch.

  ―Hahaha, you already put up with me for years in the residence bedroom and here we share a bunk bed, you should get used to me cooing you with my snoring... Hey, and let's go to your family's fields.

  ―Yes, yes. It's only a few hectares, maybe for you there isn't much to see but I do have a lot to tell you. North-

  A powerful thunder prevented him from continuing to speak and a flash of lightning illuminated the kitchen for a few seconds. Alan jumped. Serván knew that the storms scared him, but he pretended to be brave.

  ―I don't know why Santos went to stand guard. The roads are flooded, not a soul is going to stop here.

  Serván laughs and answers:

  ―I doubt very much that it is for doing his duty. He's so crazy about the new nurse that he doesn't even realize the sky is falling outside. And then they had to share the guard...

  ―Do you think? But that woman is married.

  ―Ohhh, as if you didn't know Santos doesn't care about that.

  ―That man has no fear of God.

  ―Neither do I and I don't go around getting involved in other people's marriages.

  ―How can you be a man of principle if you don't believe in God?

  ―What do you mean? A good education at home and that's it.

  ―I had a good education at home, I grew up with money and pampering and I'm not a man of principles.

  Serván left the cards on the table, looking at him incredulously.

  ―What are you talking about? You're the nicest, most moralistic guy I know. In fact, I did see you as a priest.

  Alan laughed.

  ―It wouldn't be bad. So I exorcise you to see if those strange things stop happening to you... The real question then is… how can you be an atheist with all the things that happen to you?

  ―What? They can happen without a God to command it.

  ―… I believe that God has something destined for you.

  ―Well, I don't believe in destiny either, but if I believed, I'd say that your destiny is brilliant, Mr. Priest. Amen ―he said, crossing himself, ironically, and Alan threw his cards at him, laughing. Serván threw the cork of his beer back at him.

  They heard the door open. It was Santos for sure, so, expecting to see him arrive wet, Serván prepared a couple of insults to say to him.

  He looked up as the sound of footsteps reached the kitchen threshold. His smile vanished and the words on the tip of his tongue froze.

  It was not Santos.

  ―Don't turn around ―he tried to warn Alan, in vain, because he had already turned.

  He hoped it was another one of those common apparitions and Alan wouldn't be able to see it, but when his friend's eyes widened and his body twitched, he knew they could both see the woman in front of them.

  They should have no reason to be scared, maybe it was just someone looking for shelter from the storm. However, the door was closed and she had entered as if nothing had happened. She was wearing no clothes and didn't seem to mind being wet from head to toe. Her eyes, the shape of her eyes, and her gaze had something wild, supernatural. And most surprising of all, a long tail loomed behind her and it got lost in the hallway.

  Actually, Serván had seen much more shocking things throughout his life. He was taking it easy until the woman spoke:

  ―I finally found you.

  He recognized that voice.

  It was the voice he had heard on the roof of the truck ten days ago, when they were forced to save a man.

  ―It's you!

  ―I couldn't stop you that night, but today that the rain has strengthened me, I came to look for you.

  Throughout his life, Serván had seen, heard, felt, many things. Things he tried to ignore and didn't bother to make sense of. Things that others didn’t perceive, or did so tenuously and in a fragmented way. But this was the first time he felt threatened, in danger.

  He felt afraid and when he turned to look at Alan he saw him looking at him in turn, terrified, as if looking for an answer in him.

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  He didn't know what to do, but he felt a responsibility, who knows why, to act. Although, in reality, the only thing he could think of was to flee.

  He motioned to Alan, with his eyes, to run to the kitchen door that opened onto the backyard. He had the idea of running to the Clinic, because he didn’t expect an entity like that to follow them to a public and illuminated place.

  ―No, no, no, don't try to escape ―the woman realized―. If you try, what happened to him will happen to you.

  Something moved behind her. Its very long tail, like a snake, glided slowly and heavily on the ground. At its end, they saw how it holded the body of Santos by the neck, which because of the movement gave a slight rattle, moreover, he seemed almost dead.

  ―Santos! ―Alan shouted, standing quickly.

  Serván also stood up. He didn't know if he had stopped to run away or to try to rescue him.

  He knew it when the woman turned around ready to leave, carrying Santos with her tail as if he were a rag, and both friends, without thinking, ran after her.

  She ran too, laughing, and strode out of the house.

  The storm had subsided a little, but the rain and darkness were enough to make it difficult for them to see her running in front of them, getting lost among the tall trees as she climbed and climbed the hill where the Clinic stood. There were no more houses around, and if there were, no one would be outside in that weather, so no other person had the misfortune to run into them.

  Serván knew that she wanted them to follow her. As the woman climbed, the sky grew darker and the foliage thicker.

  Servan couldn't help but think that they were running towards her trap, now he was the one who was terrified, and Alan was the one who was running bravely, non-stop. He ran along with him for a long time, soaking wet, he wanted to stop several times, but he didn't want to be the coward. If Alan saw the things he saw, he would be afraid too. Or maybe not, and he felt guilty. But, without a doubt, he had logical reasons to stop.

  ―Alan, wait... wait! ―he pulled him by the arm.

  ―She's moving away!

  ―She won't walk away, she won't let us lose sight of her. She wants us to follow her.

  And indeed, when the woman saw that she was no longer being followed, stopped. She was far away, they could only make out a whitish shape climbing a tree.

  Alan stood on his knees, taking a breath.

  ―Where are we?

  ―I don't know. We ran without thinking, like idiots ―he turned back.

  It was all trees and rain.

  ―What's that thing?

  ―I don't know, why are you asking me?

  ―Because you... never mind...

  ―I don't know what it is, but it has the voice I heard the night the truck got us, remember?

  ―Oh... I know you don't believe in that, but if we pray, do you think it will go away?

  ―Shit, no, Alan, that's not the way things are... Or... I don't know, I really don't know.

  They walked towards her, now slowly. Alan began:

  ―Our Father, who art in heaven…

  ―… hallowed be thy Name…

  What are you doing? Why do you pray?

  You don't know, you don't know...

  ―… Give us this day our daily bread... Do you think she is stronger than us?

  ―It seems so... we just... we have to take away Santos, we are two against one... our daily bread...

  If only you had taken something to defend yourselves with.

  He looked down at the floor, looking for a branch, a stick, something sharp.

  His legs were shaking. He didn't want to move forward, he wanted to go back, maybe get help and come back with more people. And Alan, who had always been the squeamish and fearful one, was walking resolutely towards her.

  When they got close enough, just a few feet from the tree where she had landed, the woman began to move again, sliding down a branch with feline dexterity. She was about to jump into another tree when Alan yelled at her:

  ―What do you want?! Why are you bringing us here?!

  ―We're not there yet, it's higher, a little higher ―the woman replied. She didn't scream, her voice was loud and easy to hear.

  ―Give us back our friend, please.

  ―No. I'm going to-

  A thunder silenced her voice.

  They saw her fall.

  It had not been thunder, but a gunshot.

  Although the bullet had hit her in the head, she got up with a groan that echoed throughout the hill.

  A group of men, whose presence they hadn't noticed, emerged from the darkness.

  ―Don't move.

  The woman let out a hysterical laugh that resonated louder than her groan.

  One of them shot her in the leg even when she had obeyed and remained still.

  The men, now, approached her. One grabbed her by the hair and began dragging her until the weight of Santos' body was noticeable.

  ―Santos! ―Alan shouted, approaching little by little, with fear.

  ―Who are you? What did you do? ―another asked, pointing at them as well.

  ―We didn't do anything! We were home and she arrived! Just let us go with our friend... ―said Serván.

  This no longer seemed terrifying to him, but murky.

  He had the impression that these men were more dangerous than the woman. He couldn't see their faces because they were wearing their raincoat caps, but he suspected that they were the guys who had the Mountain under control, the ones who had to be careful of.

  Why are they hunting that woman?

  He didn't know and he didn't care. Although he had to admit that the image of her bleeding on the floor helplessly disturbed him a lot.

  The woman shouted at them, looking at them with hatred:

  ―You took my food! ?You-

  Alan interrupted her:

  ―We didn't do that! Some guys forced us to-

  ―Haaaa... I got rid of them first, don't worry ―the woman said laughing, referring to the men in that truck.

  ―You've been getting rid of a lot of people, huh? ―one of the men told her.

  ―Surely she was crawling around until she could bring the rains.

  ―You're not going to run away again, you bastard. The next time you try we will cut off your legs.

  ―Or the tail, better. Just let him go ―a man finally said, kicking her tail until she left Santos.

  Alan ran to him as soon as he was free.

  ―He's still alive! ―he shouted and tried to carry him.

  Serván came to help him.

  ―We have to get out of here ―he whispered to Alan when they were close, and he nodded.

  ―Tha-thank you ―Alan said to the mysterious group, because he couldn't think of anything else to say.

  They raised Santos' arms to hang each one from one shoulder and stood up.

  Then they heard the men laughing.

  ―You guys aren't leaving here anymore.

  If Serván's legs had been shaking all this time, now they had frozen.

  ―You've seen too much, haven't you?

  Our Father, who art in heaven... He never thought that one day he would hear that phrase referring to him.

  Alan pleaded:

  ―We won't say anything, we swear. We have no idea who she is. We're not even from here, we'll leave and they won't hear from us again, really... Please, the people at the Clinic need us.

  ―Aaaah ―one of the men said, connecting the dots―. You were the ones who stopped the snitch from bleeding. They already told us.

  ―Could it have been them?

  ―If they say they're from the Clinic, yes, and Esdrás said they had an accent from somewhere else...

  ―It seems that they really like to put their spoon where they shouldn't.

  There was silence for a few seconds. Two of the men were beckoning, but Serván couldn’t understand what they were saying.

  Finally, one of them pointed his gun at them and said.

  ―You are coming with us. Hey, walk.

  Azeneth awakens.

  She touches her chest immediately.

  The strange knot is still there. It's annoying.

  But despite that, she feels good. Better than she expected.

  She raises her head and sees Dr. Victor, sitting, reading a book that he closes as soon as he sees her move.

  ―How do you feel?

  ―Good. Better.

  ―Is she there?

  ―I'm not sure. I expected to feel her presence as before, but I only feel a knot in the pit of my stomach, as if I had a balloon inside.

  ―She'll talk to you soon. Maybe she'll try something. You must be attentive.

  ―Yes, I will be.

  She looks out the window and sees that it’s still night.

  ―What time is it?

  ―Around 11 o'clock, you didn't sleep long.

  Carlota suddenly appears.

  ―How’s she? ―she whispers, but stops when she sees that Azeneth is already awake―. Ah, there you are. How do you feel or what?

  ―Well... very well.

  ―Aaah... well… ―she turns to her uncle―. Hey Victor, Is it okay for Azeneth to be with us for a while? To clear up a bit, don't you think? I'm going to be watching her, I promise.

  ―If she wants ―he replies, so Carlota speaks to Azeneth.

  ―We're downstairs, at the Door. Solum came to open it... sometimes we take the opportunity to hang out there. It's just Aza, Olegario and me... and Solum, of course. If you feel well you should join us.

  Azeneth doesn't know what to say.

  Why does she invite you?

  ―Ehh... I wouldn't want to interrupt you when you're with your friends.

  ―Oh, sometimes I get bored of being with only men. And no one else knows about the door, so you could come and keep me company... Come on, the boys are well-behaved, didn't you want to make friends?... You said you wanted to do a lot of things, that your mind was agitated by... wait, did you say it or did I dream it? hahaha, it doesn't matter...

  ?How... How does she know that?

  ―Yes... I'd like to go ―she replies automatically.

  ―Good!

  ―Be careful ―Victor says to Carlota―. Remember your responsibility.

  ―Yes, I’ll be! ―she replies, with a good mood that surprises Azeneth.

  The door is open.

  Olegario is sitting near the basement exit, sipping a beer while watching Solum do his job.

  ―I'm baaack! ―he listens to Carlota behind him―. I brought company.

  He turns around. There's Azeneth.

  Not again.

  It's not that he doesn't like that girl, but he doesn't feel comfortable with a stranger around. Olegario is not a person who feels confident easily.

  She seems to notice his displeasure, as she greets him with caution, and then looks in amazement at the open door.

  ―And Aza? ―Carlota asks.

  ―Over there ―he points to a point almost on the other side of the lagoon, where the silhouette of his brother can be distinguished―. He said he wanted to go for a walk.

  ―Ush, Aza. I'm going for him. Wait for me here, Azeneth. Brother-in-law, could you be nice to her for a little while? ―she says with a smile and he looks at her annoyed because he knows what she means.

  She takes his silence as an affirmative and runs away.

  They left you alone with her again.

  He doesn't feel like being nice. However, Carlota told them about Azeneth and what had happened to the seal Victor put on her, and he isn’t so inconsiderate as to be rude to her at this time.

  Okay, here we go.

  He gives the kindest of smiles.

  ―Why don't you sit down for a while? We brought pizzas, don't you want some?

  ―Oh, no... well...

  ―You haven't had dinner, have you? Come on, they're already half cold, but no one despises cold pizza, right?

  ―Thank you ―she says, sitting down on the blanket where they have their stuff and Olegario brings her one of the boxes, which she opens carefully.

  You really hate shy people.

  ―Do you want to play cards? ―he suggests, taking a deck that is messy on the blanket, with which he had played a few games with Azael.

  ―I-I don't know how to play.

  ―Ha, that's no problem. I'm going to show you. We'll play something simple, pairs, okay?

  She doesn't answer, because she has just bitten her dinner, but she nods.

  Olegario begins to arrange the deck and then shuffle it, while Azeneth watches him.

  ―Have you come to the door before? ―he asks, to break the ice a little more.

  She nods again, and when she finishes chewing she replies:

  ―Once. I came with Azael... but... it was a little different... I'm surprised to see you all here now... so calm, with the door open there... my legs tremble just to feel it...

  ―Oh hahaha... it's just that we're used to it... the first time we came... oops, long story, we thought Solum had really been torn to pieces, and look at him, the idiot is still there as if nothing had happened.

  ―Do you come often?

  ―Only when the doctor or Solum gather enough souls, or when he has a feeling that he must come... He usually has some strange dream where the door calls and he comes. One person accompanying him is enough, but sometimes, when we have the opportunity or when we feel like it, we all come here to hang out, it’s a quiet place. Sometimes even the doctor accompanies us, you won’t believe it but he is very good at playing cards hahaha.

  ―… It's true, it's a very beautiful place.

  ―Isn't it?

  Olegario surprises himself by speaking from the heart, because he really likes being there.

  He lifts his head to take a look at Solum, as the door is already closing and only a few pearls of light are shipwrecked in the water.

  In the distance, he sees Carlota and Azael, walking towards them, unhurriedly.

  Yes, you like to come very much.

  He turns to look at Azeneth and she is watching, almost frightened, Solum's body that is integrating near the shore.

  ―What? Haven't you seen him?

  ―… The time I came... he was in the shape of a coyote.

  ―Oh, yes. When he enters the water he has to enter as Parca, but when he comes out he can take the form he wants. I know it looks a little grotesque, but you get used to that as well.

  He is about to get up to take Solum his backpack with clothes.

  But Solum, who is not yet accustomed to certain conventions, doesn’t wait for him and runs closer, greeting happily and sitting next to them, soaked.

  ―Hey, Azeneth! How are you?... Ah, great! There's still pizza! ―he doesn't mind getting the blanket wet when he goes across to take a piece.

  Olegario thinks this is the height of indecency and throws his backpack at him with measured violence.

  ―For God's sake, Solum! Get dressed now, dammit!

  ―Ah, sorry! Sorry, sorry! I forget. I'm sorry, Azeneth.

  ―It's ok ―she replies, and only hides her face as far as she can behind the set of cards she's been given.

  ―It's not ok ―says Olegario―. He has to learn to be a decent person.

  ―Well well. That's it ―says Solum, who has already put on a pair of boxers and takes out the rest of her clothes while drying herself with a towel―. And now why are you here? ―he asks Azeneth, but he doesn't say it as a claim.

  ―Ah... it's just that Carlota invited me.

  ―That's great! The last time you came... you had a scared face, that you looked dead.

  ―Did you see me?... It's just... it's very shocking... the door, I couldn't believe it...

  ―Nah, it's not a big deal, notice that...

  Olegario leaves the cards on the blanket. Luckily, Solum is already there to entertain Azeneth.

  Still far away, the other two have entertained themselves playing on the shore. Azael carries Carlota and threatens to throw her into the water. He might even swear he hears their laughter.

  In the sky, the silhouette of a nocturnal bird flies in circles over the pool.

  ―Hey ―Azeneth's voice talking to Solum distracts him―, ehhhh... Olegario told me that... that sometimes you come because you dream that you must come.

  ―Mhm ―Solum half-confirms, as he's chewing a piece of pizza.

  ―… Aaah... What are your dreams like?

  ―… They are just dreams... I think, because I've been told, that human dreams aren't always like mine, but I don't know what the difference is… How are your dreams like?

  ―Lately, very strange...

  The bird has begun to descend, moving in a spiral. Olegario has fixed his eyes on it so much that he doesn't know if it is really approaching them as he thinks he sees.

  ―Doesn't it happen to you that... when you dream... the limits of things disappear? You kind of see things that you couldn't see if you were awake ―Solum asks.

  ―Yes!

  No, it's not your imagination.

  The bird, which is much larger than he thought, approaches.

  ―Isn't that great?! Like today, I was asleep and when I dreamed, I saw that someone was waiting for me here.

  It doesn't approach them, it approaches Solum. And it's not a bird.

  ―I dreamed that I was a totally different person, but at the same time, it was me. Like... something that I am that is deep inside and-

  That thing has increased its speed so much that Olegario barely manages to raise his arms to push Solum.

  But before he can do so, Solum, as fast as the monster, has jumped to the side and a feral sound escapes from his mouth.

  The monstrous bird, guided by the inertia of its movement, crashes to the ground and kicks up a cloud of dust next to them as it rolls around trying to get up.

  Azeneth screams and leans back.

  Olegario gets up and breaks the beer bottle he had nearby to improvise a weapon.

  With a sign of his hand he stops Solum, who is slightly crouched, growling, like a lurking animal. Olegario had never seen him like this.

  He’s no longer a child.

  The monster, finally, stands up.

  A winged, disturbing, human figure.

  "Who killed the night?

  Who opened the door,

  deciphered this dream

  and hid in the dawn?"

  Real de Catorce

  https://www.patreon.com/c/lucreyn/collections