The next night the children waited for their grandfather in their usual spots, ready to hear the rest of the story. Abuelito Tomás walked in the living room and seeing the children waiting eagerly made him laugh. He decided to play off like he did not know what they were waiting for. He sat down in his chair and picked up his book and started reading. Then he felt little fingers touch his hand.

"Abuelito, stop playing around! We have to know what happens! It is gonna be bed time soon and then we will have to wait till tomorrow to hear the rest. I don't have the patience to wait!" Ava said, with her arms crossed and her nose scrunched.

Then she pulled him close and whispered in his ear, " Elías has been talking about it all day. I think he's gonna explode if he doesn't know what happens soon."

" I can hear you," Elías said.

Abuelo laughed , " Well, let's get started, niños."

Tomás continued his story:

Andrés and I ran fast, and we tried to find a safe place away from the woman. We reached a place to stop and hid behind a tree. Then we heard footsteps. They were getting louder and louder with each second. I put my pointer finger up to my mouth, so Andrès could stay as quiet as possible. A small figure appeared in the darkness and we held each other tighter as it walked closer. The moon- light hit the figure, enough to get a glimpse of who was standing before them. It was a boy. He had to be around ten years old and he had a hat that was too big for him and a huge belly. He looked scared and relieved to see other kids like him. We all heard the loud cries of the woman and her yelling for her kids. The boys eyes opened. " Vámonos! síganme! "

We followed the boy deep into the forest hoping to see a way out soon. I was so concentrated in keeping up with the boy! I yelled to the boy as we ran, " Donde vamos? Sabes la salida?"

The boy only replied, " Vámonos! síganme! " and then he would run even faster. Every time I would tell him anything he gave the same response and would run even faster then before. It became hard to keep up with him but I was concentrated on getting all of us out safely. This boy grew to be stranger and stranger. Through the darkness the moon would hit his face while he ran for a few seconds and it looked almost as if he was grinning. The boy started laughing at one point and kept repeating ,"Vámonos! síganme!"

I didn't care- he was just a weird kid is what I thought. He started running even faster! I couldn't feel my legs. The deeper we went the less we could see and the louder his laugh grew, like he couldn't hold it back anymore. I saw this light peeking through tons of plants and trees and the boy looking behind at me smiling.

" Andrés! There is light! Were almost out!" I ran so fast excited to be out of this horrible place. As I am steps away from freedom, all of a sudden I felt this push sending me backwards. I get up and look around. " Andrés?! Where are you? Did we lose him?"

The boy is no longer in view and I walked carefully where the boy was leading us, where the light from moon shined. My eyes opened wide! I was within steps away from the edge of a cliff. I almost followed the boy off the ledge and when I looked down I saw no trace of the boy. As I sat down trying to calm down, I heard the faint laughter of the boy deep below the cliff.

Then as I get up and turn to the forest, I see this white wolf run back into the forest. It glowed brighter than the moon with eyes that were icy blue. I stayed still until the wolf was out of sight and then Andrés's screams shook the forest.

Following the scream, I saw Andrés and ran to him. "Tomás! "Andrés exclaimed and we both ran and hugged each other.

"It was terrible! I could not keep up and something got a hold of me! It was a woman, not the first woman! This one was more evil! She was horrible! Era la muerte! "

I had to get us out of here were my only thoughts. I took Andrés by the hand and told him to hold on tight and we set off running, hoping it was the right way.

This figure appeared in front of us. She had a dark dress that was worn and cloth that wrapped around her face and head. I stepped in front in between her and my brother. " Who are you?" I asked. She took off the covering from her and that's when I knew another spirit was before us. She had no face only a skull and she begged us to stay with her. I stood between her and my brother trying to think of a way to escape this figure. Her dark eyes then opened wide and looked past us and she yelled out a horrible screech.

" These are mine! I got to them first!" she yells. We look back and see this black wolf darker than the night as black as charcoal. He looked at her stepping closer to them and she yelled her horrid screech ,as if she's marking her territory standing firm. Then he growled and she stepped back and said, " This is the last time you will take what I find!" She smiled hideously at the boys and disappeared into the dark.

Tomas then stops and looks at his grandchildren, Ava's eyes wide open holding on to her brother's hand. Eliás eyes just as wide not even noticing his sister's hand grabbing his.

"Children, I think that's enough for one night."

Eliás looked at his grandfather ." Abuelo! You know we can handle it."

Then Eliás looked at his sister who looked a bit scared.

" You are right. Let's finish tomorrow."

Elias then whispered to his sister , " Lets go. I'll read you one of your stories for bed, but we have to be quiet. "

Tomás winked at Eliás proud to see he takes care of his sister so well and off they went till the next night.

Author's Note

La Siguanaba

The story goes that La Siguanaba herself was a peasant girl. She used her charm and witchcraft to make her way to being queen by marrying the son of Tlaloc. When her husband was away at war, she would cheat on him and became pregnant with the child of her lover. Tlaloc who was the God of the rain punished her by cursing her and her son. She seduces men by appearing as this beautiful young woman and lures them deep into the countryside or canyons. Once they are lured, she appears in this horrible form, her true appearance, and if they do not die of fright then they are driven insane by the sight of her. She also is looking for her son wandering the countryside.

El Cipitio

He is the illegitimate child of La Siguanaba and her lover. He is cursed to be a child for eternity. Although he does not harm many people he likes to trick them often throwing rocks at pretty girls. Truly he is just a spirit that likes to annoy and cause trouble. Legend says that he wears a big hat and his feet are backward so that when he runs away no one can trace him. He also has the power to appear and reappear anywhere.

This story was one of my favorites because it's one that my father faced in a way. When he was younger he had the same encounter with el cipitio and him luring my father and his sister nearly off a cliff. So i felt like it was a good story to include into my own! I hope you guys enjoy!

Spanish Translations

1. niños

2. Vámonos! síganme!

3. Donde vamos? Sabes la salida?"

4. Era la muerte!

English Translations

1. Children

2. Lets go! Follow me!

3. Where are we going? Do you know the way out?

4. She was death!