LA LLORONA (THE CRYING WOMAN) 

INTRODUCTION BEFORE THE MAIN STORY

La Llorona, also known as "The Crying Woman," is an urban legend that is deeply rooted in Mexican folklore.

There is no known year it was brought about or became popular, but it's origins dates back to the Aztec Empire. 

Legend has it that a woman named María took her children to a river and drowned them all.

It was to be in a fit of rage or perhaps it was despair, after she found out her husband had been cheating on her in spite of the fact she was always faithful to him.

Filled with guilt at what she had done, she drowned herself as well.

Now, her spirit roams riversides, weeping and searching for her children for all enternity, and she is said to drag anyone she encounters into water then drown them.

So many versions of this story have spread across Latin America, making La Llorona one of the most scary urban legends.

They say, to hear La Llorona is an omen of doom.

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The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and I had to use my handkerchief to cover my nose, blocking the smell that was making me sick.

As I walked down the muddy path, the flashlight from my phone was barely enough for me to make out the dense trees surrounding me. 

"Fucking Fuck," I cursed under my breath.

My car had broken down miles away from here and I couldn't get it to start again.

According to my car's GPS, the nearest help was supposed to be just along this path.

I wasn't good in maths so I wasn't sure how many more metres or miles I had left to go.

My legs were killing me, I was thirsty and the scary looking trees were not helping matters at all.

They were they hanging type of trees so the parts my phone's light couldn't reach looked like people from the corner of my eyes.

I was beginning to wonder if I was really alone.

A thick batch of mud caught my left foot, causing me to hiss as I raised my leg and started to shake away a much mud as I could.

It refused to come off so I took of the handkerchief on my nose, crouching to wipe my sneakers.

I tucked my phone into the tight cleavage of my breasts so I could clean with both of my hands.

My crop top and bum shorts were barely covering my body and I was seriously sweaty but my sneakers were my concern now.

No way was I going to let them get ruined, I just got them toda…

"Mis hijos..."

The sound was faint at first, so I paused what I was doing.

"Help me..."

The voice sounded like a woman's, scared and… crying?

My heart beat so hard in my chest I could have sworn I could hear it, as I looked around in the partial darkness. 

Who else was out here?

"Hello?" I called out.

The crying grew louder. 

It was coming from my right. 

Every instinct screamed at me not to go, but I stood up, taking my phone out from the valley of my breasts and followed the sound. 

My sneakers made squelching noise against the muddy ground as I approached a body of water's edge.

That explained the muddy ground.

Then I saw the woman standing knee-deep in the river in a flowing white dress. 

Her long black hair was covering her face as her shoulders shook.

She was still sobbing. 

"Miss, are you okay? Do you need help?" I asked, stepping closer.

She turned her head a bit and I caught a glimpse of her face— hollow eyes, white lips and cheeks that were stained with tears.

"My children... they're gone..."

"Miss, you need to come out of the water." 

She turned fully, and I stumbled backwards. 

Her face… her eyes were deep empty pits with no eyeballs in them, and her mouth... her mouth opened purely black with no teeth. 

"What the fuck?!" 

"YOU TOOK THEM!" she shrieked. 

I nearly dropped my phone when she jumped at me, then pulled me along with my phone into the river.

Spluttering, kicking my legs and hands wildly, I was fighting for my life as she held me down by my head.

My life was flashing before me.

I heard my phone ring, before I felt it slip out of my hands and the grip on my head loosened.

Raising my head up, I gulped a rush of air and turned, seeing her reach to touch me again.

I punched her and I didn't know how I did, I didn't think that I could touch her—- she looked like a ghost now.

Swimming up a bit, I got out of the water and ran, my feet barely touching the ground as I sprinted, feeling my wet hair and clothes stick to my hair.

Hearing her cries again, I doubled my speed, stumbling over a rock and almost falling down.

Those sounds were growing louder, closer.

"Mis hijos! My children!"

I didn't look back as I ran into the middle of a road, the road I was looking for.

Looking around the area, I saw a white car packed by the side of the road.

"Heeey!" I yelled as I ran towards it, slapping my hands repeatedly on the window.

No one responded so I cupped my left hand and looked into the tinted window—- the car was empty.

Trying the door handle, I found it was unlocked.

I yanked the door open and got inside, slamming it shut.

"Key, key, key, key… Oh thank Fucks."

My hands shook as I fumbled with the keys, praying the engine would start.

The crying stopped.

And silence now was scarier than her wails. 

Slowly, I looked into the rearview mirror.

She was there, sitting in the back seat, her empty eyesockets looking at me.

"My children..."

"Aaaarrrrrrrrrrrr!" 

I screamed, throwing open the car door and tumbling out onto the road. 

"You'll pay for what you've done... you'll pay for what you've taken!"

My legs were burning and my lungs were still gasping for air but I didn't stop until I saw the shape of a house in the distance.

Getting closer, I saw it was a rusting sign on top of it, it wrote; 'MOTEL.'

I got inside seeing the receptionist look me up and down.

"One room please," I managed to gasp out.

"We don't let in people with dressing like this." 

I looked down at my soaked clothes then back at her, "Please, I'll pay double." 

"35 grand."

Taking my bank card out of my wet jean bum shorts, I gave it to her and she happily dried it off with a piece of clothe and swiped it.

She handed me my keys, "Upstairs, fourth door on the left." 

Thankfully, I got into my room, closing the door behind me.

Leaning on the door I slid to the door and sobbed, covering my face with my hands, rubbing mud on my face in the process.

When I had finished letting my heart out in tears, I got up.

First I needed to bath then eat and get the hell out of here.

Entering the bath tub, I filled with water, I splashed by body with it, removing the mud on my skin.

Suddenly, the lights began to blink, on and off, on and off.

Then it stopped.

Sighing in relief, I closed my eyes and rested my head in the tub.

"That was scary." 

I felt a shadow in front of me and opened back my eyes, seeing her standing over me. 

"Mis hijos..."