Near the Pyramids…Later that night…

The moon shines down on Mexico City…even though it’s barely 8pm, the people of the region know that they aren’t supposed to be out…and there is a reason why…

“Ha…ha…ha..” Ana Cortes reaches a small town located north of Mexico City. She walks with fatigued legs as she leans a light post; “I must reach the hotel…I need to find help…”

(GGGRRRRRRRR)

Ana looks around and notices that she is surrounded by 10 Sombras; “No, when did they get here…”

(RRRAAAWWW)

The Sombras attack Ana, Ana with the little mana she has left, grabs some little pebbles in the ground and chants:

“Balas de Piedra” (Rock Bullets)

(PUM PUM PUM)

Ana takes down two, a smaller sombra tackles her.-PPPUUMMM- “GGYYAAHH” Ana rolls towards a wall where is stops due to the impact. Ana breathes heavily, she sits leaning onto the wall as she looks at the Sombras approaching:

“I guess this is the end…I’m sorry everyone…”

Ana cries as she closes her eyes. The Sombras slowly walk towards her and prepare to attack.

-♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫-

At that moment, Ana hears the melody of a violin approaching her.

-♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫-

The melody gets closer, the Sombras turn to see a woman approaching them. The woman has long black hair, brown skin and yellow eyes. Her skin is smooth, silky hair and red lips. She is wearing a traditional attire called ‘La Galereña.’ She begins to sing:

-♪Un día salías de un templo, Llorona

cuando te vi pasar

Un día salías de un templo, Llorona

cuando te vi pasar

Llevabas un huipil hermoso, Llorona

que la virgen te creyó

Llevabas un huipil hermoso, Llorona

que la virgen te creyó♫-

(One day you were leaving a temple, Llorona

when I saw you pass

One day you were leaving a temple, Llorona

when I saw you pass

You were wearing a beautiful huipil, Llorona

that the virgin believed you

You were wearing a beautiful huipil, Llorona

that the virgin believed you)

(RRRAAAWWWW)

Three Sombras attack the woman, the woman continues to play the violin. -SSLLLAASSHHH- The three Sombras get cut in half. Ana opens her eyes wider; “That woman is the same as the one in the Zocalo.

The rest of the Sombras attack the woman, the woman chuckles and continues to play her violin. -SSSLLLAASHHHH- The rest of the Sombras disappear without a trace. The woman continues to sing:

-♪Ay mi llorona, llorona, llorona

de un campo de lirios

Ay mi llorona, llorona, llorona

de un campo de lirios♫-

(Oh my crybaby, crybaby, crybaby

of a field of lilies

Oh my crybaby, crybaby, crybaby

of a field of lilies)

The woman stops singing as she stands in front of Ana; “This song is one of my favorites, it tells the story of a restless soul. It is a popular Mexican song originated in the region of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, in Oaxaca. There is no single version of the song and its date of creation is unknown. A true masterpiece right?”

“...” Ana is speechless, the woman chuckles; “Fufufu, you who are Cortes may need to memorize this song, as it is connected to you…”

“Wait, you know who I am?”

“I may or may not…fufufu…”

“T-T-Thank you…for saving me…”

“Oh no dear, I was just passing by, I am on my way to Hotel Mexica, but I like to walk down the path of life singing…bye bye now…”

“W-W-Wait…please help me…my friends were kidnap and Tezcatlipoca was revived…”

“Oh my, you have a lot of imagination girl…I think you had a little tequila right…fufufu…”

“Please, I beg you…I reach Hotel Mexica…” Ana cries as she falls into her knees grabbing the woman’s dress. The woman sighs and chuckles once more:

“Very well muchacha, you will come with me…but only if you listen to my singing…my name is Felicitas”

Ana smiles; “Thank you…Feli-ci-tas” Ana falls unconscious.

“Hey, girl, don’t sleep here…fufufu…I guess she has gone through a lot today…too bad, the night is only beginning…oh well, it can’t be helped, I promised I would help her…”

Felicitas plays her violin, Ana floats along sided her, Felicitas continues to walk with Ana on her side as she continues to sing:

-♪La que no sabe de amor, Llorona

no sabe lo que es el martirio

La que no sabe de amor, Llorona

no sabes lo que es el martirio♫-

(The one who doesn't know about love, Llorona

she doesn't know what martyrdom is

The one who doesn't know about love, Llorona

you don't know what martyrdom is)

With a fateful reunion, Felicitas agreed to help Ana as they head towards Hotel Mexica…The Melody of a Restless soul…what does it mean?

Note: This song has no original author...however, I decided to put the one who first made it public in our modern era...

The Oaxacan poet Andrés Henestrosa (1906 - 2008) La Llorona (1941) All rights reserved…