Chapter 5: The secrets of the past

Artur: Can anyone hear me?

Merly: What? You... you too? *It was the one who once left and never returned.*

Artur: Merly, are you there, is that you, Merly?

Merly: -Cries- Damned monster, you're cruel... you're disgusting.

Artur: Merly, finally... I knew it was you. Please tell me....

Merly: Shut up... Shut up, please.

Artur: Please tell me... if your sister is with you.

Merly: —frowns— What? *She looked truly confused.*

Dionisio: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Creature: Hee hee hee... Did you think I would ask about you or your daughter?

Artur: Where? Where is Linnethe? Is she with you? Is she okay? *She was paralyzed, my sister was just trying to process the incoming information. She knew, she knew... she knew he wasn't Artur; however, she couldn't let go of the pain of knowing that the first thing he cared about knowing, the one he once loved with all his being, was her sister and not her, not their daughter, but her dear sister.*

Merly: And your daughter! And me! Were we never the most precious things to you? Didn't you say I was the most beautiful thing you saw in all your travels?!... Wasn't I the reason you stayed here because you no longer needed to search for the most beautiful landscape? *She was very upset, enraged, hurt. So many unfulfilled phrases, poems, and promises, she still dragged within herself.*

Artur: Damn it, no! —Mocking tone— Did you really believe all those words? Do you think you're the most beautiful? God! How far can your egocentrism go? Do you really think I would stay with someone who thinks she deserves everything just for being pretty? Shit, you're unbearable. Did you really, really think I dedicated those poems to you from my heart? I just wanted to know that I could have you, and when I did, you lost your value because the only thing valuable you had for me was your body. On the other hand, your sister... She taught me things you could never have done. She was smart and attentive, she understood me better than anyone, and when we talked, we spoke for hours; she knew me better than you. Do you know which countries I went to? The adventures I had, the places I fled from, the corners I explored, and the relics I showed you? Do you know what they meant to me? *My sister just listened in astonishment.*

Artur: Of course not. Because you always talked about yourself, you exposed what you wanted to do and what you wanted me to give you! You are conceited, arrogant, haughty, and worst of all... you believe you deserve the best by giving out scraps, but you are just insignificant.

Merly: —Embarrassed— What...? What are you saying? *I couldn't argue anything... I just stayed silent as I watched how they dishonored my sister. Furthermore, I also didn't know what to argue, I was not privy to the information about her relationship with that man. The only thing I knew was the bare minimum.*

Linnethe: —Looks at Merly— *As I watched my sister, I saw my other sister look at Merly... My vision must have played a trick on me because I saw her smiling.*

Artur: No, don't play the victim, please, it disgusts me more. On the other hand... —Looks at Nina with disdain— Don't talk to me about that girl; that bastard daughter is as insignificant to me as you are. On the other hand, Linnethe... oh Linnethe, I still remember her skin, her thighs and legs on my shoulders, and how she moaned. Even though she seemed so pure on the outside, she was a whore, and I loved it. She moved as if she were begging...

Linnethe: SHUT UP!! That's not true! Liar, that never happened! —Looking at everyone else present— I'm still a virgin! *Merly looked at her, thinking for a moment that her sister would protect her, but Linnethe chose to advocate more for her purity. My sister felt alone, the stress was getting to her, she wanted to die.*

Nina: Mommy... mooooommy -Cries- *Nina, who was asleep, woke up because of the noise.*

Aldred: What is this? *It was a show: a Machiavellian show, designed by a macabre being to break the hearts of its participants, but it wouldn't end there.*

Linnethe: —Ashamed— Please, don't look at me *The others had just remained motionless, listening to the scene, while each member of my family tried to deal with their own torment.*

Yamil: Come with me, we must get away from here. *Yamil, one of Linnethe's friends, a good girl.*

Dionisio: Yami, Yami, Yami. What are you doing? Aren't you disgusted to touch an impure one? Or is it that perhaps you plan to escape too?

Yamil: —Furious— Shut up, there's nothing you can say that would make me lose my mind! I am good and never did anything wrong, everyone knows I wouldn't harm anyone. *It was true, she didn't say it to brag. Yamil came from a wealthy caste; however, contrary to what one might think, she was a girl who helped everyone with their problems and did so without asking for anything in return.*

Dionisio: Yami, Yami, Yami. You still don't understand, do you? Or do you want Darlo himself to tell you? *Yamil, who was taking Linnethe away from the door, quickly turned her gaze towards him.*

Yamil: —Opens her mouth— No... no, not him. *Once again, the disgusting sound of that damn monster —Vomit—.*

Darlo: What? Where am I? *Yamil stopped holding my sister to turn her body toward the door.*

Komi: —In a low voice— Brother...? *Komi, who had been quiet for a while, had finally reacted.*

Yamil: My...? No —Sobs— Why? You promised to come back.

Darlo: My little flower, is it you?

Yamil: It's me... nooo, my love, why didn't you come back?

Darlo: What are you saying, little flower? I'm here... Where's my sister? I want to talk to her.

Yamil: I... I —Looks around without seeing Komi— No, I couldn't find her, so...

Darlo: What? She's not with you! I told you to take care of her! You know she's the most precious thing to me! You knew all that, and yet you left her on her own!

Yamil: No, no... I, I couldn't find her... I'm sorry, I just...

Darlo: Shut up! I asked you to take care of her with your life!

Komi: Brother...

Darlo: —Suddenly changes his tone— My little tulip, are you okay? Are you well?

Yamil: —Surprised and crying— —Looks at Komi— Komi... The intense event didn't let Yamil think straight.

Komi: Brother... —Cries— Brother...!

Darlo: Yamil... I thought I could trust you, I thought you were different from everyone else, but you're just a fraud. From so much exclaiming "I feel alone", now you are. *As I said, Darlo and Komi lost their parents to a plague. Their mother and father were great merchants who protected the village. After their deaths, all their belongings passed to another merchant due to the contractor laws. Their family had taken a loan to buy some goods and then sell them, but after their deaths, those goods had been losing value. On the other hand, Darlo was only fourteen and had to take care of Komi, who was only seven; he also didn't know about his parents' loan, so when the collection day came, they lost everything. Since they were a beloved family, the village helped as much as they could, but it wasn't easy, as everyone was recovering from the plague. Darlo had to work and put aside his youth, so he became a cold, closed-off person who hardly ever smiled. However, he was kind to everyone and loved his sister; to him, she was his world. Some years later, when he met Yamil, he started to open up more to everyone. I don't know much about them, but I'm sure it was hard for Yamil to get Darlo to open up to her. I understand that after Darlo said those words... she was an orphan with no one she could trust, but unlike him, she didn't have to go hungry. Darlo was the only one who understood how she felt; perhaps that was the reason she was intrigued by him.*

Komi: Enough, brother, enough, don't say that. It wasn't like that; I left the house to look for you, but they wouldn't let me leave the village, so I started helping others improve the walls. Yamil must have looked for me at home, but she didn't find me. *Yamil looked up with a hopeful look at Komi, whom she cherished with all her heart.*

Darlo: It's just an excuse, a pretext. I've told you before, Komi, not to judge a person if not by their results! She could have kept looking, but I see that she didn't; now I'm sure that the most precious thing to her is not us...

Komi: Stop being so cruel, that's not like you. Besides, the village also needed help; she didn't have any other option.

Darlo: Silence! What do you know about options? What does she know about not having them? She always got what she wanted when she wanted it. Why are you protecting her now? Do you remember when you detested her for having to eat beans while she ate meat? Didn't you envy her for dressing in nice clothes, while your fate was already written? Have you forgotten how I suffered to bring you food while the others in the village ate in their homes full of warmth and laughter? Komi, do you remember when you got sick? Have you ever wondered, ''How did he manage to cure me?'' when I could never afford the medicine... I had to do something for you.

Yamil: Enough, Darlo, shut up!

Komi: Um... Komi was just as confused as everyone around her.

Darlo: I'm sorry for her, but it was either her or you, Komi. I had no choice... Do you remember your friend Sofi? That older girl, *Sofi was a young lady around Darlo's age, about 16 when Komi was 10, who used to spend time with her until she disappeared.*

Aldred: What are you talking about? *Also, she was Aldred's daughter.*

Darlo: I went for help because we had no money, but no one gave it to me. I had no choice but to leave the village while I left you in the care of the Jhener family. I ran desperately until a woman took pity on me and took me to a count. He made me a proposal... I had to give him something, and if I did, he would give me the medicine. The thing was Sofi... so I convinced her with lies and kidnapped her, handed her over to the lord, and he gave me the medicine. Hahaha, just like that.

Yamil: No! That's not true!

Aldred: What are you saying? What did you just say, Darlo!

Yamil: No, Aldred, it wasn't really like that. That's not Darlo; he's not telling the whole truth; he's hiding parts.

Aldred: Yamil... do you know about this?

Yamil: No, Aldred, you don't understand.

Aldred: Then tell me it's not Darlo's fault that she died! *Aldred was furious, his eyes bulging and his eyebrows furrowed.*

Yamil: Aldred, no... it's just that... you don't understand, I... he didn't want...

Komi: —Looks at Yamil— Is it true? —Frowns sadly—

Yamil: —Looks at her, not knowing what to say— It wasn't like that...

Darlo: I'm not the pure person you thought I was, little sister. I'm human too.

Dionisio: Don't you understand, Komi? If you were dead, Darlo wouldn't have had to do that.

Artur: You're the reason Darlo got his hands dirty.

Thing: hee, hee, hee... you're just a burden to him. *Komi covered her mouth as she lost herself in her thoughts, understanding why he did it. She really felt guilty, although she wasn't capricious, she asked Darlo for things that were impossible, and during the time Darlo took care of her, he tried to give her as much as he could. However, she didn't appreciate it enough, considering that Darlo did the impossible to survive. With all that said, she wanted to die, realizing that she never appreciated her brother's efforts as she should have. On the other hand, she always thought her brother was the best in the world, a person of integrity to admire. He became one of the pillars of the village, and someone to rely on... he was her pillar. Now her pillar had lost his value; he didn't have support, and she was just a burden, and her brother, presently, was becoming her cross.*

Aldred: YAAAAMIIIIIL! —Walks straight to Yamil— —Grabs her by the neck— You took my love, Darlo... I'll take yours!

Sadeis: Wait, Aldred! —Grabs him from behind and hangs on— *Sadeis, the woman from the fields, the one who taught the children how to sow.*

Éstefer: Don't just stand there, take Aldred, and the others cover your ears!!! Let's go into the village, away from the wall!! *Éstefer, Aldreuno's mother.*

Brand: DAMN! REACT! *With Brand's shout, everyone started carrying those on the ground and taking them to the center of the village.*

*Sadeis and Brand took Aldred and knocked him down before he could kill Yamil.*

Brand: Aldred, wake up! Don't be stupid, if you kill her, you'll die too!

Aldred: Shut up...shut up, I died the day I found my daughter lifeless!

Sadeis: Aldred, listen first!

Aldred: Shut up! Let me take her life and avenge my daughter!

Brand: Aldred, that's not the way! Listen to me, you know I understand you, and if you keep going down this path, the only thing you'll achieve is more pain!

Sadeis: We understand your pain; this isn't the way, my friend. *In a way, it was comical.*

Thing: hee, hee, hee... hypocrites, hee, hee, hee...

Sadeis: -Looks at the thing-

Brand: Sadeis! Don't listen to it, just look at me; look at me and hum our song.

Sadeis: Lalala, laaa lalalaaaa lala laaa lala.

Dionisio: What's wrong, Brand? Are you afraid he'll find out something? Perhaps about your bastard son?

Sadeis: Laaa, lala?

Brand: Don't listen to it; they just want to divide everyone. They're creating conflict among us. Yamil said it, they're not telling the truth.

Darlo: Correction, Brand. We're not telling the whole truth, but look around you. Look at their troubled hearts, look at the fallen. They know deep down that what we said is truer than they know.

Sadeis: Brand?

Dionisio: Don't you want to know, Sadeis? Don't you want to know why he stopped touching you? You just have to look at him, look at him, Sadeis, look into those eyes and ask him the question... you know you need that answer.

Brand: It's not like that, my love, it's not true.

Sadeis: Brand —In tears— —Looks at her husband straight in the eyes- Do you have a bastard son? *Brand and Sadeis: spouses, had a son, who drowned in the river due to an oversight. The mourning was hard, but they stayed together. However, Sadeis never wanted to have another child for fear of the same thing happening again; they would never have another child, that was the agreement. Their sex life was difficult, to say the least.*

Brand: —Looks at her sadly— That's not true. *After so many years with him, Sadeis knew when Brand was lying, so she let go of Aldred, who was still filled with rage.*

Brand: Blame me, spit at me, and do what you want, but please, I beg you, not now!

Sadeis: How could you? —She covers her head with both hands and cries— How could you have another child?

Brand: Please, not now, just let me explain, but not now.

Sadeis: —Upset— I hate you. *More than hate, she was resentful. Not because Brand had cheated on her with another woman, but because he had another child.*

Dionisio: Of course, of course... of course, you hate him, but tell me, everyone, who would you hate more? A person who cheated on his wife? Or —Dramatic pause— a woman who let her son die just to be distracted, lured by another man's body? Which one is the worst scum?

Brand: —Looks at Sadeis— What are you talking about? *Sadeis... explain yourself.*

Sadeis: —Distressed— He's lying, don't believe him. In just a second, Sadeis had changed all that anger into fear.

Brand: It can't be true... my son —Let's go of Aldred— Haha, haha, my son... died because of you. *Brand stepped aside, leaving Aldred standing, looking at Brand with the same pity as Yamil*

Aldred: you are all trash.

Dionisio: Of course, Aldred, and you are one of us.

Aldred: Shut up, Dionisio.

Darlo: Don't play the saint, Aldred

Artur: We know.

Aldred: My only sin was not killing you myself, Darlo.

Darlo: Brand, I pity you. Don't tell me you don't know. Do you not know who was to blame for Miandriu's death? *Miandriu, Sadeis and Brand's deceased son.*

Brand: Looks bewildered

Dionisio: My friend Aldred, who was always jealous of Brand for having a better position, a beautiful wife, and a strong son. Your jealousy led you to attain something you couldn't have. You wanted his job, but you were too foolish for it. You wanted his talent, but you were never as skilled with steel. Likewise, you wanted a son, and your wife gifted you a beautiful and lovely daughter whom you despised.

Darlo: How cynical.

Dionisio: You are the personification of filth. Brand, don't you want to know who your wife was looking at while your son was drowning in the river? Don't you want to know who your wife was talking to while your child was gasping for air in his lungs, calling for help? Don't you want to know who planned to take your wife from you and got nothing but the satisfaction of your son's death?

Brand: Aldred... Damn you! I'll kill you!

Sadeis: No, Brand, Stop!

Thing: Hee hee hee... Who's the monster now? *The monsters... maybe it was us.*