ISADORA
Was it all my fault?
Maybe it was my fault.
“Isadora… are you okay?” Alejandro asked, but I didn't answer. I just stared at the large fire consuming Fe's body. Why… Why? Why didn’t she speak?
Why did she refuse? Why didn’t she point me out?
Tears fell from my eyes. I could hear her screams and anguish, but I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t do anything. I didn’t know why I couldn’t do anything—I'm no longer a normal human… I can move…
But…
Andres suddenly appeared before me, just staring. He was the one who ordered his men to kill Fe because she wouldn't speak about who murdered her husband. Which monster she had seen.
I looked up at Andres and our eyes met. “Are you happy now, Andres?”
“Not yet, Isadora,” he replied coldly. “I won't be content until I’m finished.” And he walked away.
Right now, I want to kill him.
If someone like me is a monster, then I see him as a demon. I remained standing in my spot. As usual, there were many onlookers, but now the surroundings were silent. No one spoke. That was because they knew that Fe’s husband deserved to die—they knew Fe's situation, so they also knew that she didn’t deserve this!
My fists tightened, and the heat in my body reached my bones. It felt as if the fire from Fe's body was transferring to me, blazing with anger and hatred in my chest. I knew this wouldn't end here.
"Isadora," Alejandro called again, his voice now softer and filled with concern. He placed his hand on my shoulder, trying to calm me down. "We need to leave here. It's not safe for us… for our child.”
But I remained silent. When we got home, I was still quiet. Only a few hours had passed since I killed Fe’s husband, and now… she was dead too. I didn’t know if I should regret what I did because if I hadn’t acted last night… Fe would probably have died too.
“We will head north,” I heard Alejandro say. “Life is more advanced there compared to here, Isadora. Everything we need is already there.”
But I didn’t speak.
That night, as I sat in a corner of our room, the weight of everything fell on my shoulders. The changes in my life were too fast, too violent. Everything I was used to suddenly disappeared, like a cruel joke of fate.
I don’t even recognize who I am anymore.
I have so many questions… dreams that I don’t know if they are just dreams or memories. I feel like I'm no longer myself.
Soon, I felt Alejandro’s kisses on my cheek. I leaned into him and let him stroke my hair. Even though I couldn’t face him, I needed my husband. Even though I knew he was hiding many things from me, I knew I had to trust him.
I whispered. “Why do I feel like even you will disappear from me?”
He shook his head. “No, my love. I won't disappear, I’m right here.”
I nodded and closed my eyes.
I don’t know why I fell asleep. Alejandro always says we don’t need to sleep anymore. But I can't help it, it seems my body and mind act on their own.
But the peace I sought in sleep didn’t come. I heard Fe’s cries. Andres slapped her and she fell to the ground. “Who killed your husband, Fe?” the man asked harshly.
“I did!” Fe screamed. “I killed him!”
“Nonsense!” Andres said, grabbing Fe’s hair. “A monster did it, Fe. A monster! And I want to know who you saw!”
“S-Stop!” I protested when Andres pointed a knife at Fe. But he turned to me, glaring fiercely. His eyes lowered to the baby I was holding and then back to mine, as if threatening.
“Don’t interfere, Isadora.” And he turned back to Fe, who was also looking at me. She shook her head slowly… and I screamed when Andres stabbed Fe in the side.
I quickly looked up at Alejandro, who was gritting his teeth. “Enough, Andres!” Alejandro said, pulling me into his arms. “Do you think she’ll talk if she’s dead?!”
“And who will the monster kill next, Alejandro?” asked one of Andres’ men—Romel.
“But we had an agreement,” Alejandro said firmly. “That we would investigate this!”
But Andres was already dragging Fe by her hair, pulling her forward—away into the distance. Into the middle of the forest, where the place for burning was set.
And I knew within myself. I knew I wanted to kill them.
The night came, I woke up and fully awakened. It was dark. Alejandro and our child were not there. So I got up from the bed and immediately went out of the room. At the door of our home, Alejandro was there holding the baby. He was staring outside.
“Alejandro?” I called to him. He immediately turned to me and our eyes met. His face was serious and deep in thought. I approached him. When I saw what he was looking at outside, the anxiety in my chest returned.
Outside, the light from the fires was clearly visible. It looked like Andres and his men were starting again.
“The day after tomorrow, we need to leave.”
I nodded.
“I’m sorry we have to leave the place where you grew up.”
I leaned into him and he immediately embraced me. “I also want to leave here, my love,” I replied softly and hugged him. My face buried in his hard chest. “I want to start anew… and get to know myself better.”
I heard Alejandro’s soft and gentle laughter. I looked up at him and gazed into his sad eyes. “My love, I told you, didn’t I? You are a traitor.” He bowed and gave me a sweet kiss. “And because of that, I loved you even more.”
I smiled slightly, and so did he. I quietly stroked the cheek of our child who was looking at me. I smiled when I saw him smile back slightly.
I looked out at the entrance of our home. Where Andres and his men’s noise and the fire they carried were still in the distance.
I managed to kill Fe’s husband without difficulty. He struggled, but he couldn’t do anything…
And I can kill again if it means the freedom of my family.
The next morning, I packed our things. I only took the few memories Victoria and I had, a few clothes, and my child’s things. Alejandro was busy planning with his brother, carrying Rafael.
We weren’t allowed to go to church anymore. No one could enter there. In the morning, Andres’ men were asleep; at night, they patrolled.
I was startled when I heard a knock. I had just finished packing our things in the room, and when I came out, I could smell who was at the door.
Andres.
Even though I hesitated, I opened the door. “My husband isn’t here, Andres,” I said immediately.
He smiled slightly at me. “I didn’t come for him, Isadora. I just want to apologize for what I did to Fe.”
What did you say?
My eyebrows furrowed. I didn’t care if he was the new leader of this place. “Apologize? For what?” I stared at his disgusting face. “For killing an innocent woman?”
He didn’t speak.
“Andres, I can smell the beer in your breath. If I were you, I’d rest.”
He stared at me for a long time. “I don’t know why I did it, Isadora, forgive me,” he whispered. “I’m not a murderer.”
Ah…
“Is your conscience eating you?” I asked, laughing. “Or are you afraid I’ll hate you more for killing Fe?”
He paused briefly. His dull eyes suddenly filled with anger. “Why not me, Isadora?”
Why not him?!
This man has gone mad!
I looked up at him angrily. “Because we are siblings, Andres!”
“Isadora, I love you!” he shouted at me.
I stepped back from him in disgust. “We share the same blood, fool!” I shouted, panting. “So stop it because I have a family! I love my child and husband!”
“Do you have no love for me? Is all your love for your family?” he asked suddenly, calm.
So I stood up straight and looked directly into his eyes. Eyes that looked just like mine. “You’re right, Andres. All my love belongs to my child and husband.”
And he didn’t speak again. He bowed his head and looked at the floor. Soon he sighed deeply, but sadness was evident on his face. Without a word, he walked away, his steps unsteady from the alcohol.
But I knew Andres was strong with alcohol. I knew he remembered everything I said.
So I wanted to leave here even more. Far from everything… far from Andres. My half-brother who loves me…
But not as a sister, but as a partner.
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