The Escort Unto Death

[Wattys 2022 Shortlist]

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Buena Trujillo, the town who ruled by rich, prominent families, Ludevico and Jorquera, for decades. In 1990, they agreed upon a fixed marriage between their successors, Flavian and Ophelia, respectively. However, Flavian has a relationship with Stella, the daughter of a poor coachman family, Martizano, that they keep hidden.

Despite their romance keeping out of sight, Ludevico's patriarch, Monsieur Greco still learns and thwarted. Desperate, Flavian is resolved to elope with Stella to fight for their love, but unfortunately, she did not show herself at the rendezvous. Left heartbroken, it prompts him to marry Ophelia.

On their wedding day, Stella appears in a rage, revealing that she came to their meeting place but someone drugged her to sleep. Unbeknownst to her, their house was eventually set on fire and Martizanos was trapped in flames. Out of anger, she exacts a curse on Ludevico, that their inheritor will bring tragedy when he yearns for romantic love. Stella was then burned to death by herself, leaving the townspeople horrified.

Five years passed, Vaughn, the heir apparent of Ludevico, was raised to be indifferent to girls in the hope of breaking the curse. Unforeseen, a young lady, Wayne, came to town and he immediately fell for her charms. Their intertwining draws everyone's attention and opposes, in fear of prophecy to happen. But apparently, the two disregarded the omen and tie the knot.

And lo, a mysterious figure attired in a black medieval dress, hiding behind a skull mask and riding a kalesa, terrifyingly shows at the wedding. This figure earns the name "Kutsero de Kamatayan," where dwellers claim that it was Stella's ghost, kickstarting her curse.

The query began to enwrap the people. Is this really Stella, the Kutsero de Kamatayan, vowing revenge on the people who made her suffer or only someone lurking and using the old chronicle for its own motives in town?

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Published: 31 December 2021
Finished: 10 July 2022