Urban Legends: Dominican Stories

By Fernando Fernandez

This collection of short stories has been both a challenge and a satisfying achievement. This collection of short stories, which over time became urban legends, is to rescue them from the oral tradition and put them in writing, which motivated the writing of this book. They reflect all the beliefs, apprehensions, and fears of the unknown. The stories have been enriched so that the scenes show more details, which will make the reader get into the plot and be more of a participant than a spectator. Some of these stories are nightmares that may disturb your sleep.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fernando Fernandez
• Release date: Oct 21, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215075074

Book preview

Introduction

What motivates me to compile these stories, which over time became urban legends, is to rescue them from the oral tradition and capture them in black and white in a medium that makes them last for future generations, thus sharing them with other generations who unfortunately lost the love for stories and that their parents or ancestors let die the passion for storytelling.

These short stories do not belong to any time or era. However, they are integral part of our culture, and they reflect all of our beliefs, apprehensions, and fears of the unknown. Many of these short stories were lost in my memory, in a place from which they were practically banished. I have had to talk to family and friends to refresh some of their details. In spite of this, I have tried to keep their essence as I remember them, only enriching the scene with details that seem to me to suit the reader to get into the plot and be more participant than spectator. Undoubtedly, these stories provide personality and depth to the Dominican culture.

I have selected thirteen short stories and have organized them as they have come to my mind, without any criteria of priority or weighty reason for me to arrange or classify them. I was greatly helped by the stories my father, Rafael, told me when I was a child. It is good to highlight that some of the stories are from the military field, since my father was a Captain in the Air Force and a cockfighting enthusiast. These stories are legends and tales that were told in the past. The names used here are fictitious and do not correspond to any real people. Similarly, these stories are timeless, and I have attempted to tell them in the manner in which they were told to me. Of course, I have tried to enrich them. However, without extending them too much, so as not to denaturalize the characteristics of short stories.

Writing a book always involves dedication, and once in a while, inspiration strikes you when you sleep, in the wee hours, with an idea that seems fantastic. You have to decide whether to wait or get up and write it. What I do is to write some notes on my cell phone and then develop them during the day. In this case, from multiple stories, ideas came to me in my sleep. Scratches gave me a nightmare, and I stopped the manuscript for about a month; then I decided to continue and finish it, not without other nightmares of lesser magnitude and the occasional shiver on hot Caribbean afternoons. The story seems like it didn't want to be told. I am not superstitious, nor do I want to create a paranormal cloud around this story. I am only describing what I was told and the facts surrounding the development of the manuscript. For the record, I have written about paranormal, demonic, and horror experiences before. However, none is as negatively charged as Scratches is. The reason for such a reaction is perhaps due to the fact that my sister told me this story, and it has parts fiction and a side of harsh reality that she had to live through.

Regarding the story of the gallo pinto, I must warn you that I am not a supporter of cockfighting because of the animal cruelty it implies. Nevertheless, in my country, they are legal and have an audience.

I hope you enjoy them and share them with your family and friends.

I. Scratches

House number 63 had a fig tree plant in the yard, also a pine nut plant and some fruit varieties. It was a relatively new house. In the girl's bedroom, there was sometimes a temperature difference that did not occur elsewhere in the house; it was perhaps a couple of degrees lower. We attributed this at first to the ventilation and the nearby trees.

A few days after moving into this house, Ana Maria complained of hearing noises at night. Her mother ignored her and said it was just some kid stuff. Her recurring nightmares and sudden screams had become an obnoxious routine for her. What's wrong with you, my dear? I can't sleep, mom. Try again, honey. Counting sheep as in the story I read to you, she tried to fall asleep, tossing and turning, and between the warmth of the room and the passing hours, she was exhausted. However, she felt the presence of something or someone beside her. She sensed that she was being watched, that it was something evil. She heard the nails of a beast tearing the walls, the surroundings of her mattress, and they reached her head, her face; and when she woke up, she felt that she could not move her legs. She was completely paralyzed. She tried, she pushed, and she wanted to scream, However, her voice did not come out. She was choked with her own saliva. After much effort, a deafening scream woke everyone up. What happened, Anita? Between sobs, she told her mother that she had been motionless at the mercy of the one who had been watching her, controlling her, and unable to do anything. Her mother hugged Anita and took her to sleep with her, While her father looked at her and said to Eather, Don't get her used to sleeping among us. She's a big girl now and must learn not to be afraid of anything.

In the morning, everyone acted as if nothing had happened; everything seemed to be fine. The little girl prepares to go to school. Anita’s mother is worried about these episodes of uncontrolled hysteria, insomnia, and fear that can cause her mental damage and affect her heart. It is harmful, especially at such a young age. Yes, you are right. We should seek professional help for her. However, that's expensive, and we don't even have enough resources to raise them. Anyway, I'll ask the school psychologist if she can recommend anything.

Upon arriving at school, Ana Maria's mother, Esther, goes to the counseling office. There she politely chats with the school psychologist, Jatna. After listening to her, Jatna tells her, Victims of sleep paralysis experience this as a dream without being able to wake up from it. However, they are on a spectrum of light sleep, long before REM. Esther tells her that the girl claims to have seen something demonic. Has she had nightmares? Yes, constantly, and she has told me of a creepy, female-shaped being with long, unkempt hair, as if she had come out of a pit or a swamp. Just talking about it gives me chills; I can't imagine what she feels when these episodes happen to her. You should take her to a clinical psychologist to delve deeper into what is triggering such bad dreams, whether it is some pathology or psychosomatic problem. It all started when we moved into our current house a few months ago. So that's where I should start digging. Thank you very much for your time. I'm glad to have at least given you some guidance. Nevertheless, it's something I feel very sorry for your little girl, who is so sweet. Esther leaves with the information from the clinical psychologist recommended by the school counselor. This could be of good help to Anita.

Esther takes Ana Maria to the clinical psychologist and family therapist, Stephany. She begins to tell her her story. While all this is going on, it drains the girl's energy. Although she is very reserved and I only talk about the paranormal events and nightmares when she wakes up, I know that this is disturbing her and has made her more reserved, fearful, and shy. The practitioner asks her if she has any respiratory or other health problems. In extreme cases, according to those who study sleep disorders, it can cause the victim's heart to stop and even kill the victim due to the energetic suction caused, leaving the victim weak or with memory problems, and it will be difficult for him/her to remember the experiences lived during such events. Don't scare me. What should I do? You are doing the right thing. If you are a believer, I suggest you seek spiritual help. This can be a positive to bring in support from good people.

If you and your husband approve, I would like to do a hypnotherapy session to see what is causing the sudden behavior and disturbances. I agree. I will ask Albert and let him know to coordinate the next appointment. Sure, let me know of any out of the ordinary events. Sure.

Arriving at the house, Albert gets the details of the visit to the therapist. What do you want to do, Esther? I'm not sure yet. I'll support you in whatever you decide. Thank you, Esther. I think we should take the girl to therapy to see if she improves her situation. I agree. We should try everything we can.

The hypnotherapy session had begun quite well. Anita was describing to the therapist what she began to see and feel in the new house. An ugly woman, a monster with honey-colored or light brown eyes that changed to red at times, with a ragged and filthy dress of twigs, a deep voice that only emitted moans, animal or beastly screams, that frightened her quite a lot. She had wrinkled and scaly skin, and super long and dirty nails with which she scratched the walls, made a lot of noise around the girl, and sometimes scratched her head or neck. The woman in question had a necklace with a charm on it. The girl felt that this woman had suffered a lot and was somehow tied to that place, to a pain, to something terrible that had happened there. It tied her to the mortal world so that she could continue to seize more victims to express her pain. It used her as a channel of communication or discharge. You are in my house. Go away, leave me! Relax, relax, and you will wake up without remembering anything we talked about. You will feel rested and relieved.

The psychologist asked the mother if anyone else had had any paranormal events in the house. To which she said, No one besides the girl. Do you own the house? No, we recently rented it. Would you consider moving somewhere else? We could. Although it's very cheap rent, and it's convenient for public transportation and commuting to work. You should consider it for your child. Sure, we will consider it.

Following the psychologist's advice, Esther visits Father Giovanni to ask him for help with the situation her daughter is going through. I understand and I think I can help you, daughter. A manifestation of any supernatural creature, as to refer to a specific type of it, is of concern. It may be a spirit that has been taken away in this life,