The Farm, part I.

"Had you been told about the story, no... not the one about the orphanage. an older one. a story about a farm. the orphanage wasn't the only one nor the first attempt at creating a settlement at the forest's edge. but it was the only one left standing.

Now, going back to the farm. well, it gets dark...."

a man between his mid to late fifties works on the land. the man is tall with a muscular built. long wavy brown hair with a red touch. long thick ginger beard with white and gray hairs. the man stops for a second and looks up at the bright sun.

"Macario, mi amore. what are you doing there." asks a woman in her mid-thirties.

Macario turns around. he stares at his wife with the kind of facial expression you would see from a teenager in love. Macario walks towards his wife. he embraces her and confesses his love with such passion and love like no other.

at the distance there is a teenage boy holding another boy's hand. the second boy is about four to five years old. the two kids tell their parents that they are hungry.

"Fine, I am done for the day. boys go back home." screams Macario with a warm smile.

"You were right amor. Jose has started to accept me as his mom." said the wife.

"Maria, my love, you are their mom, and my wife. it was just a question of time for Jose to understand. now, let's go have a meal." said Macario as he holds his wife's hand. the two walk inside their home smiling and talking.

the four of them are a simple family. people used to call Macario a mad man for staying so many years without taking a second wife. then they called him a fool for moving his home to the forest's border against all warnings.

the clouds hide the sun for a moment. a shade of darkness makes it harder to see the creatures of the night walking out of the forest. then among shadows walks an old woodcutter. there is something off about that old man.

that night Jose asks his dad if he could eat fruits. Macario tries to hide the pain in his face as he turns his face on the opposite side of the light. letting the darkness obscure the sorrows of a man who struggles to keep his family happy. he stays until both kids fall asleep.

Macario stands up carefully. he gets out of their room. he walks towards the dining room. his wife stands behind him embracing him with love and care. Macario closes his eyes. few tears fall from his eyes as he falls on his knees. he confesses to his wife to not be good enough for neither his wife nor his kids. he feels like a failure.

"Esta bien, mi amor. no man was created perfect, perfect is the lord or his vision. it is just about right for the creation to be faulty in order to learn and progress." said the wife.

"You have no idea how important you are to me. I couldn't function without your help. I am not sentimental, I am not wealthy, I am not wise. I am just a farmer. no less, no more. but your words are wisdom. your voice makes me feel like the king of the commoners. your warmth is the emotional support I need. you're my everything."

"I know, and I am here for you." whispers Maria with a warm smile.

"I feel ashamed to be a simple farmer. I wish to offer you the most sacred treasures of the world and its mysteries. but all I have in my hands are dust and dirt stained by my own blood. my creed is your will. my treasure is your love. my life belongs to you. and of the superficial world there is nothing of my own. nothing to own." 

"Don't you dare say that in my presence ever again. a farmer is the greatest support of the economy. the crops you collect are what keep the kingdom fed. is because of your work that kids can stay healthy. is because of your work that a king can take a round shape. so please, never look down on your work. be proud of it." said Maria with a gentle smile.

"Forgive me, mi amor. I am a terrible husband. I know, I have so much to learn from you. and I will do anything to live up to your expectations." 

"Oh, look at the time. is past midnight. let's go to sleep." suggest Maria as she holds Macario's hand and pulls him towards their room.

Macario lies down on his bed. he feels the warmth of his beloved. he stares at the ceiling as he reflects on his life. there are doubts invading his mind. he closes his eyes. unable to sleep Macario opens his eyes once more again.

"Pardon amor. my mind is plague by an arsenal of ideas." said Macario as he turns his head just to find the other side of the bed empty. 

Macario stands up. he walks out of his room. there is a table set with porcelain plates with golden details and silver utensils such as forks and knifes. the table made of white wood with golden and silver details. the chair made with precious rocks as ornaments.

there are twelve empty chairs. Macario takes the main chair. he looks at the juicy turkey at the center of the table. he feels hungry, extremely hungry. he thinks about eating the turkey all by himself without sharing a single bite. all of it just for him.

someone knocks on the door. Macario welcomes the person. then a figure wearing an elegant white suit with black strips walks in. he walks with a wooden cane with a red dragon design at the head of the cane. with sharp features and silver hair. the man sits down. he wears a smile the same way you wear a mask. there is something off about him.

for the longest minute the strange figure doesn't move. he doesn't speak. he just stays there staring directly at the turkey as if he was trying to see beyond the naked eye. maybe trying to find the secrets of death and life.

"The name is Luc Ferdinand Natas. I can offer you infernal glory base on carnal pleasure. the most intimate and nefarious dreams that could invade your sweet dreams. anything, and everything. it is all yours for one simple flavor. let me satiate my hunger for once, all I need is a leg from that juicy turkey in the table." whispers the infamous being.

"My greatest condolence. the whole entirety of that turkey belongs to me alone. I don't see the need to share. no Natas is welcome at my home." screams Macario.

Sir Luc Ferdinand Natas walks out and vanishes into thick black fog. 

then Macario finds himself alone once more. he takes a glass of water. he stares at the turkey feeling the texture and picturing the flavor without taking a single bite. the turkey appears to be thick and big. there is something enchanting about that turkey.

then once more someone knocks on the door. again, Macario welcomes the stranger of the night that comes to bring chaos into his life. this time it seems to be a vagabond wearing dirty white clothes with wrinkles and scars caused by life. the stranger appears to be of a simple nature with a noble heart. he begs for something as simple as a bite from the turkey. there is nothing else that the stranger wants. insatiable is the voracious hunger. 

this time Macario thinks twice before answering. the previous individual was more demanding and was more direct about what he had to offer. this man on the contrary is practically begging for a meal while keeping the benefits a secret.

Macario looks directly at the eyes of the vagabond. and his final decision is an eminent no. there is nothing to think about. the vagabond asks for the meal once more. this time there is a deep sorrow painted in the shadow of his eyes. 

the vagabond is understanding. he stands up with a fragile frame. with slow & delicate steps, the vagabond left. there is nothing else to add.

once more is just Macario all by himself in the comfort of his home. the turkey appears to be even more tempting now. saliva drops from Macario's mouth. he closes his mouth. he cleans his mouth with a piece of paper. he keeps admiring the beauty of the turkey. 

as time goes by. Macario starts to wonder about the absent presence of his family. he starts to think about his wife and kids. he wishes to embrace them and hold them close to his heart as he shares a piece of the turkey. 

finally, comes the third and final visitor. in this case the lights are turned off. the door opens by itself welcoming an intriguing figure wrapped in darkness. a figure of distinctive and unrecognizable features. a figure of a bygone era. present. and future. 

a figure with no distinctive features. a figure that feels warm and cold. a figure that appears to be absent and present. the eyes of a vile killer with the sweet smile of a lover. a voice of damnation with touches of salvation. malicious and stupidly innocent.

"I desire to take whatever amount you wish to share from that turkey. there is only one thing of my possession that I can offer. take it or not. the final decision is yours. just a final word. regret is a reminder of the opportunities the humans let die in vain."

Macario thinks deeply about those words. he nods. Macario offers half of the turkey to the stranger standing on the opposite side of the table. the stranger smiles with a sweet chaotic smile as he takes precisely half of the turkey. he then leaves a jar with a pink liquid. the stranger doesn't give any details about the liquid. he just tells Macario to be careful.

the stranger lost in time returns to the world where he belongs. there are no more words share between them. there is just a deep hollow silence.

three faceless figures sit down around the table. Macario recognizes his family, but for some reason their faces had been erased. there is mad laughter, followed by screams full of horror and an endless amount of pain that reaches the notes of a drowned song.

Macario feels his hands wet. out of nowhere his hands are covered in blood. a neon dark, almost black blood. he looks at three dolls sitting around the table. the dolls are broken with scars left by the touches of time. each doll has a familiar face painted. 

Macario feels confused. it becomes almost impossible to stand up. there are boney hands holding Macario in the chair. he struggles. the front door breaks into pieces. then dark roots come inside the house and absorb the light from the house. it all becomes ruins.

Macario feels afraid. the fingers get under his skin. his face starts to bleed. he screams loudly from the depth of his lungs. and even so there is no one. nobody to save him. Macario is completely by himself in the comfort of an eternal looking nightmare.

a voice whispers blasphemous lies to Macario's ears. his hands tremble. the voice adds the flavor of malicious acts that can be committed against his family. rageful is the plead of Macario as the voice demands one thing alone. the pink liquid. Macario refuses to give up his precious liquid that was given to him by the kind stranger.

"It is Mine. MINE ALONE." Macario screams with such rage that he almost runs out of breath and breathing becomes harder.

the sinister voice laughs as it disappears in the background.

Macario wakes up sweating. his left hand is holding a jar with a pink liquid. and his right hand is covered in blood and dirt.