Whispers of the Damned
Prolog

With every step I took between the hidden alleys on the outskirts of one of the small towns in the country of Mexico, I felt the presence of darkness that enveloped everything around me, something that crawled on my back, and it stopped just to wait for the right time to jerk my neck.

The moonlight was blocked by dark clouds, leaving the forgotten streets drowned in menacing shadows. The night wind carried the scent of decay and mystery, hitting my face with the unwavering arrogance of darkness. The faint glow of the streetlights could only highlight a fraction of the all-encompassing darkness. Making the silhouettes of worn-out buildings look even more eerie, like a prison for those trapped in this neighborhood.

But amongst that menacing darkness lurks all sorts of dark activity. Whispered voices and forbidden offers echoed around every corner, creating an invisible yet pervasive vibe. I could sense that danger and mystery waited behind every corner, lurking patiently to hunt down anyone weak or unwary. But I was used to everything, so I pushed all that fear and darkness down to the very core of my being.

I had seen black and white because those were the only two colors life had shown me. Now, I was forced to live under its pressure without being able to feel the white.

I stopped in front of the small red-brick building at the corner of this settlement and sighed when I saw the number of people visible through the cracked glass walls. I snorted sharply. I wouldn't be going home tonight with endless customers coming in because it was a friday night. I would go home tomorrow with pain in my back and legs.

Again.

I pushed the door, and the stifling heat and the loud and low voices of conversation immediately greeted me. Ranchera sounded beautiful. I saw Magnan onstage, shaking her body, covered only by a yellow bikini and black jeans. Her long brown hair was down, tossing as she shook her head sexily. Her eyes leered at the men at the edge of the small stage, making them cheer immediately.

My breath came out sharply. I shook my head and chose not to care about her. I started walking through the people, heading towards the back room to put my bag and jacket in one of the rooms there.

"Peeps! You came too early." Joanna's voice startled me.

I tied my apron around my body and turned to her. "I'm bored at home, it would be better to spend some time fussing." I said.

Joanna laughed amusedly, "That's why you should get a boyfriend, Cabrona! You can drown in a sea of orgasms every friday night."

I glared at her vulgar suggestion before snorting in exasperation. "Trust me, I'd rather drown in an actual ocean than that one, Perra." I said as I tied up my long hair.

She rolled her eyes. "That's why you're still a virgin."

"I don't know if it's a compliment or a taunt." I chuckled and pulled her out of the room reserved for workers in this tiny pub. Oh, and not to forget, I locked this room because, like human nature... the white part is mainly eaten away by the darkness that rules their heads to commit crimes, and what happens here usually ends up taking the goods of the workers who live below the poverty line.

I'm not actually on that line, but I make everyone here believe I am one. And I'm okay with losing a few hundred pesos, but I can't risk what else is in my bag. It would get me kicked out of this town.

"As always, you are so beautiful, como un ángel. Give me a mezcal and two beers, cariño." Jonas smiled as I arrived at the bar, doing my job. "Make it quick." He said again. Jonas was a handsome guy who I would have liked if it weren't for his asshole nature.

I snorted at him, tempted to tug on his thick mustache. I didn't answer him. I just poured beer into two glasses and then looked for the bottle of traditional mezcal made by Irina, who was the mother of the owner of this pub, Sergio Perez. I brought the two large glasses to Jonas. He looks at me with interest, and sometimes, it turns to lust. "You know, I lost my tennis match against Chico this afternoon. I lost the bet. He extorted a lot of my money." He pursed his nose. I tilted my head, looking at him flatly. "If you can see the ball as well as you see my breasts, you'll win." I smiled flatly. "Leave me alone, I have to work."

He just whistled happily before he stepped away. I faded my smile as I saw him sitting with his fellow jerks and I continued my work. I cleaned the bar counter, mixed a few drinks, cleaned the glasses, and finished washing them as the other bartenders finished.

I looked over at Magnan, who had come downstairs with a lot of money tucked into parts of her bra and pants. I looked at her as she approached me, giving me a metal symbol. She sat on the barstool opposite me and smiled, sweat dripping down her face.

"Tired?"

Magnan nodded. "Yes, they can't stop asking for other things."

I looked at her with pity welling up in my chest, but I handed her a mineral water bottle instead of advising her to replace a better job.

"Gracias," she said and gulped down the water.

I went back to wiping the glasses lined up in front of me.

"Do you know if there are any new person visiting here?" she asked.

I looked at her with furrowed brows. A new person... that meant a new person dealing with some punks or some high-profile criminal who controlled this city because there was no way a tourist would walk around. It was rare, and some ended up rotting on the side of the road with their hearts out.

"That guy..." she ran her fingers over the bottle, her lips playing seductively as she said, "...he's very handsome. Hot. Sexy."

I snorted. "From another town?"

Magnan shook her head, propping up her elbow. "I don't think so. He seems to be from abroad, maybe he's from U.S." Her eyes looked up. Daydreaming. "I saw him earlier when I was watching Chico and Jonas playing tennis at Diego's house. He was walking through the house with Antonio."

Antonio Garcia.. was the son of Carlos Garcia, a wealthy upper-class man in this town. They were dangerous people. "If he's friends with the Garcia family, then he's a dangerous person," "But he's so hot,"

I could almost hear the sigh in her voice. I shook my head at her. "Get cleaned up and go home."

"It's only ten o'clock, Daniella. I'll clean myself up now and start again at midnight."

I looked at her with dislike. "You're already tired."

"I'm not," she licks her lips at me. "I'm going to dance naked when the new guy shows up and take him with me."

"At least you and him aren't sleeping in our bedroom or living room. That would be troublesome for me."

"Wind down, Amor." She lowered her right hand in a slay motion, then left my presence towards the back room with the money still on her.

***

It was already fifteen minutes past twelve at night, and Magnan was already do the dancing snake in her transparent white bikini and skirt that allowed everyone to almost see her ass. More people were already here so we had to grab another seat from the storage room upstairs. A few eagle-eyed fools had already filled the periphery of the small stage to get a closer look at Magnan. If possible, to touch her.

I always protested about that to Magnan. I just wanted her to sing without having to dance erotically and not to welcome all those dirty old men's hands. But she always had an excuse. She made many excuses about how she liked to be touched and how they would be disappointed that she had turned them down.

Plus, Sergio wanted something inviting. And most types of men in this small town are 'manwhores' and jerks. Well, that's why this pub is always crowded.

I wiped the last glass and poured the beer into the big glass at the big tattooed man, one of the loyal customers. He looked at me with a tilt of his head. "Am I drunk or are you getting more beautiful every day, more than Magnan?" "Pay your debt to Sergio, and you'll see," I replied sarcastically.

"Ouch," he said and then he was out of my sight in a flash every time I mentioned the debt he owed this pub.

"So crowded," Joanna purred in annoyance. She stood next to me after placing the glass she had washed on the table. "Piero barely had another chair to bring in."

"Maybe we should put up a closing sign or a warning that they should bring their own chairs," I said.

"Might as well close it, I'll tell-" Her words stopped just as the door to the pub opened.

Three men walked in, and my eyes and her looked at the three men.

Actually, only on one man.

He was such a contrast from everyone here from all the men I'd ever met. The man had black hair cut short with bangs that swept gracefully over his forehead. Every strand of his hair looked messy, creating the illusion of all the devil in every woman's wet dreams. He was handsome in a rugged way, even with just a short black t-shirt and jeans covering his athletic body.

My heart fluttered. Somehow, it was like I had just seen a handsome man. I did. Often. All my older brothers are handsome, all my friends in Colombia are handsome, all my cousins are handsome, too. All the men around me were good- looking, but this one... seemed to have a special magnetism for my core that I had previously driven a nail through the bottom so that nothing could shake it.

A very handsome man with an athletic body, black hair and a gaze as sharp as an eagle, who looks like a god in Greek mythology.

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Sexy and handsome... mesmerizing- that seems to be my weakness.

I blinked and continued, wiping my desk and taking my eyes off him.

"I think the second option is better," Joanna murmured to me. I turned to her, who seemed to be looking in the same direction as me. "You.. you saw him too, right?"

"What?" I furrowed my brow, putting on my 'unaffected' mask.

"The guy who just came in."

I nodded, "Yeah, why?" I blinked at her.

Joanna snorted, bit her lip, and brought her face closer to mine. "He's so hot, you know!"

"I know. I almost saw your drool from here," I teased her. She quickly wiped her lips with her arm. "You act like you've never seen a handsome man," I quipped to her, but why did I feel it suited me better? And, now I'm willing to bet that it affected me more than it affected Joanna. Shit, what's going on? I've never been irrational. It's just about a handsome guy.. why do I even have to overreact like this?

"It's because he's so...sexy."

Bingo. She was right.

I didn't answer him because my focus was diverted when Xavier brought a chair across the bar right before me. "What's this for?"

"There's another visitor, and we're out of seats."

"But why does he have to sit in front of me?" I asked with my heart pounding. Anticipation overcame me.

"He wanted to sit here," Xavier replied, shrugging.

I raised an eyebrow and opened my mouth, but someone had already approached us. I looked up at him, and I'm sure Joanna was already gaping in dripping saliva. My heart fluttered as I stared at the man. The man who had just walked in took my breath away instantly. I tried calming myself down and wearing my 'don't care' mask. The sexy man sat in the chair Xavier had put him in earlier. He nodded at Xavier and gave a 'thank you' smile.

Xavier's gaze returned to Joanna. "You have a lot of things to do," he said.

Joanna snapped out of her reverie when she looked at him. "Okay," she approached me. "Ask for his number, you have to give it to me."

I chuckled. "Okay." I gave her a thumbs up. And then I looked at him, that guy... that handsome one. Pulling my flat smile, I spoke. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

He looked at me and paused for a few seconds intensely. His eyes were green... very green, like the Tongass forest in Alaska. Like my house in Madelin, which is surrounded by a green pine forest landscape, which is ridiculous... but everything looks mesmerizing when I look at him this close. And I was already struggling to hold back the tremors in my heart. He was making it even harder with his closeness. "One beer."

I nodded slowly, not saying anything else, as I poured the beer into a large glass and placed it in front of him. I swallowed and wiped the freshly washed glass Joanna had given to me. I was still focused on that for almost two minutes. I kept looking down without wanting to see him, but I could feel his intense gaze on my face.

It was piercing like a slippery, sharp needle.

"Is this pub always crowded?" his heavy voice, almost a lover's sigh, made me look up. He was speaking Spanish with an accent I couldn't place. But I guessed he wasn't from the US, Mexico, or any part of the Americas.

I swallowed before answering, "No. Only on week nights, and holidays." I replied. "Where are you from?" I asked.

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He raised an eyebrow with a look like, 'are you seriously asking me that?'.

I shook my head. "I'm sorry. It's just that this is a small town and we almost know everyone. You.. you're certainly not from anywhere in this town or any town in Mexico. Your accent says something different." The corners of his lips tugged upward. "Italy,"

I nodded.

"Ever been to Italy?"

"Yes-no. I mean no." I answered immediately with awkwardness and nervousness that almost made my tongue uncontrollable. "It's so far away. I mean... why are you here?"

"Business." He smiled faintly, seemingly interested in the conversation. His face looked at me deeply before asking. "What's your name?"

"Daniella. You?"

"Danzel."

I nodded and smiled slightly, not knowing what else to say or ask, but his gaze still lingered on my face.

"Daniella," my name hummed against his lips.

I almost fainted at that.

"Gosh, you're so beautiful."

I could hear the whisper. I looked up at him in surprise. He still looked at me with a deep green gaze while drinking his beer.

The biceps on his arms were moving interestingly. "What time do you get home, Daniella?"

"It's random. But we close in... almost thirty minutes."

"Ah.. that's a pity. I should have come earlier."

I bit my lower lip. "Yeah, that's too bad." I whispered.

"Do you have time after this?"

"No," I shook my head, answering quickly... too quickly. "I'm going straight home and go to bed."

"Can you accompany me to... I don't know where it is but it's the Rodrigues hotel? I guess." He replied.

I blinked at him with my heart urgently wanting to burst out. "Yes, sure."

"And accompany me?" he asked with a deep gaze. He wasn't one for small talk. "Because I'm alone, and you seem to be quite friendly."

I knew I was hypnotized when I said, "Yes."

And, I was like fully hypnotized when I let him take me to Rodrguez's hotel, where all the darkness was, and touch me with his hot twist that set me on fire.

Until he took my first.

I came to my senses as the heat from the sun scorched my skin, waking up alone in that hotel. Completely alone. Until everything went wrong with my brother in front of me, pointing a gun at my head. Until it became a nightmare that I knew would haunt me.