The Lost World: Book One

By Esteban Vazquez

The Lost Worlds is a story where all the times are combined, crossing all the real and imaginary borders of existence.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Newman Springs Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 21, 2021
• ISBN: 9781636920634

Book preview

Whispers, Wails, and Satanic Laughter

It was a quiet night in the grasslands of the vulture. The villagers were asleep after midnight when suddenly the whisper invades the peace of Jacinto, an old day laborer who lived there all his life. Please wake up. Don’t leave me alone. I am scared, she whispered repeatedly to the ear of Jacinto, who was sleeping soundly. After so much discomfort, Jacinto woke up exhausted and bathed in sweat. Who, who speaks to me? he responded in his unconscious to the call of the whisper. After checking his hut, he decided to return to his bed and continue resting for his morning routine. Please don’t fall asleep. I don’t want to be alone, repeated that whisper energetically. Somewhat angry, Jacinto jumped to his feet, screaming with a lot of anger, Who are you? What do you want from me? Where are you hiding?

I’m here right next to you.

This is a joke, Jacinto agreed.

I am not kidding. Yes, I’m here, but you won’t be able to touch and you won’t be able to see me either.

If nobody can see you and nobody can touch you, then what are you afraid of? asked Jacinto.

I’m not afraid of anything right now because I am with you. I am afraid of loneliness. I live wandering the roads with no one to talk to. They have condemned me to this life, and nobody can save me.

Then who are you? How did you come to me? asked Jacinto.

I don’t know. I have been wandering around the territories for many years, sunk in the loneliness and eternal darkness in which our territories were condemned.

And what’s your name? Do you have a name? asked Jacinto.

No, I don’t know who I am, or why I am here. I only hear the moans and the Satanic laughter that mock when they notice my presence.

Then I will call you Whisper, since that’s the way you talk to me. My name is Jacinto, in case you want to call me by my name, so what do you think you’ll do? I work all day, and you will have to be alone.

Oh, don’t worry, interrupted Whisper, I will go my way. I don’t want to cause you trouble.

Okay, Jacinto insisted, you have a very beautiful soul, and it would make me very sad to let you roam the region.

Okay, I’ll stay only if you let me accompany you wherever you go. Nobody will notice. Only you will know that I am with you.

Jacinto agreed, who at his age also needed company. In a short time, they created an emotional bond. Jacinto walked around places, something that he didn’t do in a long time. He was full of life, he used to fish at night, he roasted the meat in bonfires, he sang and spoke aloud, and he seemed to be crazy, commented the villagers, thinking that he spoke alone. At night, Whisper would wrap herself next to him to feel the human warmth that was taken from her all her life. Jacinto feared that so much happiness would be taken away at some point. Jacinto was a lucky man because he lived for many years, and although he didn’t obtain wealth, he enjoyed enviable health. Maybe Whisper was the only thing he lacked. Jacinto was so involved with Whisper to the point of ignoring social coexistence in the village. Some neighbors listened to him talk at home and while walking on the roads. They came to think he was crazy. Whisper, who had a divine gift, was aware of the discomfort felt by his neighbors, but didn’t give it such importance.

It was an autumn afternoon. Winter was approaching. Jacinto cut the wood to feed the fire in his fireplace. In those thick mountains, the coldness was extreme. Back in the hut, Jacinto prepared dinner. Quietly Whisper watched from the heat of the bonfire. Just after dinner, Jacinto fell exhausted in his bedroom after the weariness of the day. Whisper watched him and admired him with great empathy and sometimes thought what will it be when the day comes. That concern invaded her thought, and as much as she tried to avoid it, it was always present. Jacinto, who was unaware of the reality of Whisper, enjoyed himself, but she who knew it didn’t want to ruin his happiness and preferred to keep it secret, still knowing the time would come. Thus, time passed, and on a very cold night while Jacinto slept, the cold lashed at his sheets, and for moments, he felt that the heat of Whisper was missing. A nightmare invaded his dream, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t wake up. This time, he heard laments.

Oh, don’t let them take me away. I want to be here. Please. Don’t let them take me. A voice bit by bit faded away, followed by a loud satanic laugh, which rocked Jacinto awake. Bathed in sweat and very agitated, Jacinto managed to get out of the nightmare that left him with the feeling and emptiness that Whisper was gone. Whisper. Whisper, where are you, my angel? What have you done? Where have you gone? he started screaming madly. He ran out into the neighborhood, screaming in anguish, Whisper, Whisper, where have you gone? The scandal woke up the neighbors who wondered between amazement. Now what happened to Jacinto. They already knew that this old man was out of his mind. Down the street Jacinto ran toward the outskirts of town and the further away his voice disappeared into the darkness of the night. Jacinto ran incessantly until he was overthrown from exhaustion. The next morning under the dew of the plants, he opened his eyes, not knowing where he was. Whisper, is that you? he spoke to a butterfly that perched on a flower. Jacinto lost his mind. Once standing, he went for a walk in circles without finding directions. Jacinto was lost. He had forgotten the way. Prowling the grove, he advanced without a destination. The days had passed, and the neighbors worried what happened to Jacinto. The hut was abandoned, and its absence was evident, his neglected crops, and not even the forest hunters had seen him, but it was only the beginning. Jacinto was on his way to the lost worlds.

Meanwhile, Jacinto got used to the road, asking everyone he found if they knew Whisper. It was an obsessive search. He barely fed, and he didn’t even have the strength. Between the heat of the day and the cold of the night, Jacinto was imposed a heavy punishment that ended up weakening his system, suffering extreme illnesses. No matter how strong a human being, he couldn’t overcome so much punishment without food and rest. Jacinto was a healthy man due to his good lifestyle habits. One night without strength, Jacinto fell exhausted on the grass at the edge of a mountain, where he remained unconscious for several days. When he woke up, he tried to get up without result. His vision was blurred, he couldn’t appreciate its contours, the headaches were stormy, and the hunger twisted his stomach. In his self-preservation instinct, Jacinto crawled through the grass to the entrance of a cave where he managed to take refuge from the rains and animal dwellers. After several days and a little recovered Jacinto noticed the presence of a beast that was staring at him, but was not trying to attack him. Then Jacinto invited it to his side and began to caress her. She was an old wolf that, just like him, was dying of her last sighs. Suddenly the wolf transformed into an old woman and asked Jacinto to remain still. The old woman built a bonfire and prepared a beverage which she offered to Jacinto, who remained motionless. After a few days, Jacinto managed to get on his feet, a little weak but somewhat better in his vision. The old woman asked him to take a rest, that he still needed to nourish himself. Apparently he didn’t eat for a long time and, therefore, his weakness. Moments later, the old woman wrapped Jacinto in fur and placed it near the fire. Suddenly she transformed into a wolf and asked him to rest while she returned. Jacinto, who was still amazed, closed his eyes and nodded since he couldn’t speak.

The wolf entered the grove, returning hours later with several of the prey obtained from her hunting, and transformed into an old woman, she prepared the meat with which she fed Jacinto once he woke up. Despite these incidents, Jacinto was still lost