ISADORA
The morning was bright and clear. As usual, Alejandro was not home because he was at the church, working. He only returned home at night and sometimes came back early when he had the chance.
I remained seated on the wooden bench that was built as a resting spot. But there were hardly any people here today. No children playing, and the once noisy surroundings were now filled with whispers. Whispers expressing fear—fear of a monster killing people—a murderer prowling the night and attacking anyone it encountered.
"How is the baby, Ysa?"
Startled, I looked up at the man standing beside me.
It was Andres.
I didn’t reply. He sat down next to me and chuckled softly. “Don’t worry, I won’t do anything to anger your beloved husband.”
“Do you need something?” I asked while gazing at the tall trees in the distance.
“Aren’t you afraid? All the women are scared to go out these days.”
I sighed. “If I’m going to die, there’s nothing I can do to stop it if my time has come.”
“You haven’t changed, Isadora,” he said. “You’re still different from everyone else.”
I stayed silent, keeping my eyes forward. I felt uncomfortable with Andres being here because I knew—
“Isadora, I want to know your opinion.”
I faced him. “You want the opinion of a mere woman like me?”
A small smile played on his lips. “It’s only your opinion I care to hear because the words you speak are always interesting.”
I frowned.
Why was this man behaving this way? It seemed he had ill intentions.
Yes.
Right.
His intentions were not good.
“What’s your opinion on the women killed by the unknown creature, Isadora?”
“What?”
“Your husband knows all the details, doesn’t he? He’s part of the team examining the bodies.”
I stood up and gently placed my hand on my swollen belly. “Andres, whatever your intention is, I don’t care. I just want to live peacefully with my future family.”
We locked eyes. His face was serious, and I couldn’t read his thoughts—there was no expression or emotion in his gaze. Until a small smile appeared on his lips. “Everything started when you got pregnant.”
What?
“What are you insinuating, Andres?” I asked angrily.
He remained seated. The smile still lingered on his lips. “That it all started when you conceived. I don’t know, maybe it’s just a coincidence. And your husband… are you sure he doesn’t control you?”
I stared at him for a moment before laughing. I couldn’t help it and ended up laughing out loud, my eyes locked on his face, then his neck.
“Andres, Andres,” I said, calming down. “You said it yourself…” A strong wind blew, lifting my long hair. I grinned at him, mocking him. “…that I’m different from everyone else… I need a man who’s also different from all of you… different from you.”
And I despise him. Them, him and his father. “Andres, no matter how much you try to force yourself, I will always reject you.”
His smile vanished, and he looked away. It was as if all his courage had melted away. “I know, Isadora.”
“If you know, then why do you act like a fool?” I clenched my teeth, and if it weren’t for the risk to my husband, child, and myself, I would have drained every drop of blood from him now. “Your father is the reason why—”
I couldn’t hold back. I slapped him. “Andres, you know we share the same father!” I slapped him again. “You and your father are disgusting! If your father hadn’t taken advantage of my mother, she would still be here!”
I stopped, breathing heavily. His cheeks were red, but he didn’t speak. “You’re just like your father, both of you pigs.”
I quickly walked away. The wind was still strong, and the once clear sky had now darkened. It seemed like it was about to rain. So when I entered my home, I immediately hugged myself and held back my tears. I went straight to my room and quietly calmed myself down.
This was the first time I had done this. The first time I had been this angry again.
And yes… yes, Andres and I shared the same father.
My mother was burned because they said she had an affair with a married man, and she had a husband and child too.
But that wasn’t the truth…
My mother was forcibly raped by Manuel—and I was the result of his atrocity. When I grew up and people saw that instead of resembling my mother or father, I looked like Manuel—they killed my mother when the story spread. She had just given birth to Victoria when they attacked our home to tie my mother up and burn her.
My father… he couldn’t handle it and slowly weakened until he passed away.
Disgusting. They are disgusting!
I wept in anger. I felt like an object that my brother and…
No.
I had long forgotten about it.
I was too young to remember it.
Right, I shouldn’t remember how painful it was. What it felt like to…
My eyes met those of the man standing in my bedroom door. His brow was furrowed, as if confused about why I was in this state when I was fine when he left.
“What happened, Isadora?”
I sobbed. “Is this how it is when you’re pregnant, Alejandro? All the anger I’ve kept in and all the memories I’ve forgotten come back?”
He approached me and immediately comforted me. He kissed my tears away and brushed my tangled hair from my face. “What is it, my love, tell me what happened.”
“I was so young, I shouldn’t remember it anymore.” My attention drifted from him to the wall.
“Isadora, what is it that you shouldn’t remember—”
I covered my face with my hands. “It’s a sin to be interested in another woman, Alejandro. But I was only eight years old to understand!”
The room fell silent. When I looked up at him, he was just staring at me.
“I kissed Fe on her cheek. Andres saw it, told Manuel—Manuel, he called me to the church. He taught me how to be a real woman.” I laughed. “That kiss was only a sign of my love for Fe as a friend… I’m not… a sinner.”
I stared into space. “It hurts to be a true woman.”
And the next day, Manuel’s body was found nailed to a cross. As my labor pains began, the people screamed from the church.
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