Las Dos Marias

Chapter 30: A Lad's Decision

A cough slipped from his throat as the humidity woke him from the nightmare. When he opened his eyes, he realized, through the haze, that he was in an unfamiliar hut.

The scent of herbs and earthy smoke filled his senses, and his heart didn't know how to react to this overwhelming rush of information. What happened to me? Where am I? he wondered frantically as pain shot through his body.

And then, the memories came back in fragments...

Panic flickered beneath the surface of his thoughts. His eyes scanned the room, taking in the woven mats, baskets of dried herbs, and flickering candlelight. Just then, the door creaked open, and Rafael's heart quickened as a woman entered. She was carrying a basket overflowing with herbs, her gaze gentle yet probing. "Child," she said softly, her voice kind but laced with concern, painfully reminding him of his mother. "I'm glad you're finally awake... Do you remember what happened to you?"

"I—" Rafael's throat tightened, the words dry and foreign on his tongue. "I only remember the two ladies who helped me by the road."

The healer's expression softened, and for a moment, she seemed relieved. "One of them was my daughter, Isabela. She recognized you... she was the painter who commissioned the picnic with one of the Doñas. Do you remember?"

Rafael nodded, a flicker of recognition sparking within him. "Yes... she was kind to me... and the other señorita?"

"Señorita Trinidad, the daughter of the Alcalde Mayor," the healer answered.

At the mention of the Alcalde Mayor, dread crawled up his spine. Authorities. His mind flashed back to the Guardia Civil—their harsh voices, the way they had cornered him and beaten him nearly to death. The world felt too small again. "Manang," he whispered, his voice trembling with urgency. "I have to get back to town. My mother is in danger."

The healer's face darkened with concern, her brow furrowing. "Child, what are you saying? Tell me—who did this to you?"

Rafael swallowed, the words heavy on his tongue. "The Guardia Civil... they were after me. I discovered something about the priest... I—" He hesitated, fear choking his voice. "I must not say more. They'll hunt me, and if they know you've helped me..."

The healer stepped closer, locking eyes with him. "You must calm yourself," she urged. "If what you say is true, then you're still in grave danger. You need to rest."

"No!" Rafael's desperation cut through the room like a knife. "If they find her—if they think my mother knows where I am—she could be in danger too. I can't stay here. I have to tell her."

"Child, listen to me." The healer's voice took on a commanding tone. "You barely escaped with your life. Do not worry anymore. I'll go to your mother myself."

Rafael's hands shook with a mix of anger and fear. "Who are you? Why are you helping me?"

"I am Constancia, the healer," she said. "I'm sure you've heard the stories about me. They say I'm the witch of the hills."

Rafael blinked, his throat tightening again as a memory surfaced. "Y-you... you're the wife of that poor farmer. The one they killed, saying he was a leader of—"

The healer's face suddenly hardened, the air in the room growing tense. "What do you know of my husband?"

Rafael's chest tightened at the unspoken pain in her tone, the secret pressing down on him like a weight he could no longer bear.

"I—I only wanted to steal a few coins from the Padre..."

The confession slipped from his mouth, awkward and hesitant, but there was no turning back now. He stared at the floor, unable to meet her eyes.

"My mother... she's very sick and we had no money. The Padre—he promised he would help us. He promised."

His fists clenched, anger flashing through him as memories of the priest's false promises surfaced, along with the ugly things he'd done.

"But he didn't. He never meant to. Weeks passed, and every time I asked him for help, he turned me away. So, I got desperate. One night, I broke into his room. I wasn't planning to take much—just enough for medicine. But I found papers instead, hidden in his desk. Letters addressed to someone else... not Padre Enrique, but a man named Padre Máximo Velasco. The church had excommunicated him for... for horrible things." Rafael paused, his voice shaking. "That man, the one posing as Padre Enrique at the chapel... he killed the real priest and stole his identity. And the Teniente Mayor—he's working with him. They're in this together."

Shock flashed across Constancia's face, but she remained silent as Rafael continued. "I never wanted to be part of this. I just wanted to help my mother." His voice began to break. "But they were also the ones who murdered your husband. I'm sure of it. I don't know why they're doing this, but they'll come after you and your daughter too."

Constancia's grip tightened on the nearby table. "I think I understand now," she murmured, her voice heavy. "That priest... that man... they've been circling like vultures for a while now. I should have seen the signs. And my daughter—" Her voice cracked. "I pray Señorita Trinidad's protection is enough to keep them at bay."

Rafael's hands trembled. "I'll find the revolucionarios, Manang. I plan to join them."

Constancia's eyes flickered with a mix of fear and understanding. "That is a dangerous path, child."

"I have nowhere else to go," Rafael whispered, determination settling into his bones. "And can't you see the injustices happening in San Felipe? They are requiring the men in between the ages of 16 and 60 to perform 40 days of forced labor. They call it polo y servicio—I have seen my friends, Manang. Those who cannot pay their way will have to labor for their infrastructure projects and even on personal estates of those Spanish officials. This can't go on anymore!"

The pain was too hard to bear for Rafael. he may have escaped polo y servicio by being a sacristan but the path had even pushed him to a more dangerous precipice.

The healer looked at him. "Child, listen to me. I hear you, okay? We will figure this out. But not yet. You have to make yourself strong first. If the Guardia Civil are indeed on high alert, it means you can't return to town. Not now. Do you understand me?"

Rafael nodded, if only to appease her. But he resolved that there was no turning back now. Yet his chest felt lighter for having spoken the truth.

As the healer moved towards the door, she glanced back at him. "You are braver than you think, Rafael. But remember, this is far from over. We will need all our strength for what's to come. The señoritas are on their way back to San Felipe... I also have to do what I can to help them..."

When Constancia finally stepped out, Rafael exhaled a huge sigh, feeling the anger simmering in his veins.

"Forgive me, Manang, but I have to get out of here," he muttered. "Whoever needs to pay... must pay."