EL SILBÓN

ORIGIN: Venezuela and Colombia.

El Silbón, or "The Whistler," is a horrifying urban legend from Venezuela and Colombia, particularly associated with the plains region known as Los Llanos. 

The story has haunted generations with its description of a cursed spirit that roams the countryside, carrying a sack of human bones—- which is sealed like a glue to his back— and whistling a sickening tune.

According to legend, El Silbón was once a young man who committed a hideously unthinkable crime. 

One version of the story states that he killed his father after his father murdered his wife…

While another version claims the young man killed his father in a fit of rage for not bringing home the kind of meat he really hungered for.

All the same, in both versions;

As punishment for his sin, his grandfather ordered him to be tied to a tree and whipped mercilessly. 

Salt and chili pepper were rubbed into his wounds to increase the length of his suffering, and after all that, he was released.

But…

Cursed to wander the earth for all eternity.

El Silbón is known for his ever- the- same- whistle, which sounds like a musical scale that goes up and down in tone. 

His presence is very deceptive, for if his whistle sounds far away, he is near;

But if it sounds close, he may still be very far. 

Those who hear his whistle are doomed to death, because he chases them, won't rest until he catches them and kills them, adding their bones to the already huge collection of bones in his hunched sack.

All this make him a dreaded figure across the region and people, young and old fear him.