Mysterious Fragments

In the sultry depths of Southern Madrid, my aunt Lidia's beauty salon awaited, shrouded in mystery and enchantment. My mom, Rose, and I had resisted the allure of Lidia's invitations for far too long, entangled in the web of our busy lives. Little did I know that my journey to this salon would unravel a twisted tale of beauty, horror, and revenge. One evening, my mom, ever concerned about my less-than-ideal complexion, urged me to take care of my skin. Rose (R): Sara, have you washed your face after coming from college? You must take care of your skin if you don't want it to be worse. you know how important it is to take care of your skin. Lidia has invited us so many times; maybe her salon can help. Sara (S): (whispering to herself) Nothing can change this face. I can never look beautiful like my mom. I told myself about my perceived lack of beauty, I felt a familiar pang of self-doubt. My father had sought help from numerous specialists and dermatologists, yet my skin woes persisted. It seemed as if an insidious curse clung to me, casting a shadow over my appearance. Then came the fateful call from Aunt Lidia in Ireland, revealing the existence of a beauty potion that could transform me into the butterfly I longed to be R: We've tried everything, Sara. Maybe Lidia's beauty potion can help. S: (reluctantly) Well... R: Mom called Aunt Lidia late at night. Both chatted for a while, and then my mother asked Aunt Lidia to help me and shared her concerns about my beauty and appearance. Aunt Lidia listened to my mom patiently and asked her if she wanted to talk to me. My mom handed me the telephone receiver. After exchanging formal greetings Aunt Lidia said: Lidia (L): Your mother is worried sick about your skin. I wonder how come you still haven't come to me. S: I've tried everything, but maybe I am not born to be beautiful. L: Darling, don't be silly. Stop worrying and just visit me. I have a beauty potion made with very sacred ingredients; it works like a magical curse. Let me apply that to your skin, and I am sure after that, your skin will look as beautiful as the prettiest butterfly wings. S: Well... L: No 'Well and all' Just book your tickets and come to me. It's a matter of your whole life. Girls have to take care of themselves, after all. One day, you've got to find your prince charming, or not? (The anticipation of the upcoming trip to Madrid filled Sara with a mix of excitement and nervousness.) S: Mom, do you really think Aunt Lidia's potion will work? R: We won't know unless we try, sweetheart. The journey to Madrid was uneventful, but the warm Spanish air and vibrant atmosphere rejuvenated my spirits upon landing. (As they landed in Madrid, Lidia welcomed them at the airport. The picturesque streets led them to Lidia's mysterious and enchanting beauty salon.) S: (settling into the cozy guest room) I can't believe we're finally here. As I settled into the cozy guest room, skepticism lingered in the recesses of my mind. L: (determined) Sara, I promise you'll leave here a different person. Lidia spoke of the sacred ingredients passed down through generations, creating an eerie ambiance in her salon. (Over the month, Lidia treated Sara with the mysterious beauty potion, sharing tales of ancient curses and dark magic.) Lidia (before entering into the Spa's treatment room): Sara, everything comes with a price. The treatment I'm about to give you will change your life and appearance completely. My only ask is never to reveal this secret, not even to your mother, and after marriage, not even to your husband. Some secrets shall remain buried forever or lose their power. S: (Terrified) But...well ok (I was kind of forced to say ok because I was desperate for perfect beauty.) (Lidia interrupted any objections) No 'buts' It's a matter of your whole life do you get it, and I just nodded in YES... Days turned into weeks as Lidia meticulously treated me. The transformation unfolded gradually, not only in my skin but also in my self-perception. Yet, as whispers grew louder and the salon unveiled its dark secrets, I found myself entangled in a web of beauty and horror. After a month, the mirror reflected a version of myself that seemed otherworldly. Radiant skin, defined features, and an aura of newfound beauty accompanied me as Lidia, my mom, and I embarked on a shopping spree through the streets of Madrid. The attention and praise I received were overwhelming, catapulting me into a realm of admiration and desire. (Sara's transformation was remarkable, and she became the most desirable girl in town.) S: Mom, Aunt Lidia has truly worked wonders. R: I'm forever in her debt. S: Aunt Lidia, thank you for everything. L: My dear, you deserved it. The departure from Lidia's salon marked the beginning of a new chapter. Proposals flooded in, and I became the most sought-after girl in town. Marriage bells rang with Peter, the eldest son of the wealthy Miltons. A grand wedding followed, with Aunt Lidia receiving a special invitation to express our gratitude. (On the honeymoon, Sara started witnessing a haunting reflection in the mirror.) S: (worried) Peter, something is wrong. A reflection of a beautiful young woman covered in blood haunted my every glance in the mirror. Panic set in, and the joyous occasion turned into a nightmare. S: I keep seeing this girl covered in blood beside me. P: You are just tired because the past few days have been so eventful so just rest, you will feel better my darling. S: I did as Peter said, but deep inside me something was eating my flesh away, and ohh boy I was terrified... (Back at Peter's parents' place, Sara decided to confide in Peter about the curse.) S: Peter, I have to tell you something. Aunt Lidia's potion came at a price, and I made a promise never to reveal the secret. Peter (P): (shocked) What? What are you talking about? (Sara told Peter everything about Lidia and the stolen curse.) P: (alarmed) We need to find a solution, Sara. Peter, shocked and concerned, needed time to process the revelation. As I splashed water on my face in the washroom, the reappearance of dark circles sent shivers down my spine. Lidia's warning echoed in my mind, and fear of losing my newfound beauty gripped me. (Sara's appearance started changing after revealing the secret to Peter.) S: Peter, my dark circles are back. What if I lose my beauty? Will you still love me? P: I don't only love you for your looks Sara, he said (calmingly) He added: We'll figure this out together. (Sara's sister-in-law Peggy entered the room.) Pe: Sara, what's wrong? Why are you hiding your face? S: Please, I don't want you to see me like this. (Peggy switched on the light, revealing Sara's changed appearance.) Pe: My God, Sara! What happened to you? Desperate for help, I confided in Peggy, my sister-in-law. Together, I told her everything. We sought the guidance of a psychic named Ritz. (Sara and Peggy went to see Ritz, who meditated to understand the situation.) His mysterious room, adorned with ornaments and tarot cards, set the stage for a revelation. As Ritz meditated, the flickering candle ceased, and he shared the stolen origins of Lidia's beauty spell. Ritz (R): Grace was beautiful and kind, but Lidia's jealousy led her to steal the curse. Lidia had betrayed her friend, Grace, stealing a spell that promised beauty but harbored a curse. Grace's final moments were marked by Lidia's treachery, as she cursed the beauty spell, ensuring that those who experienced its effects would bear a haunting fate. (Ritz explained that Grace had cursed Lidia for her betrayal.) R: The haunting image you see is Grace's revenge. Lidia's actions have consequences. The revelation sent shockwaves through my being and the fear of losing my beauty escalated. As Peggy and I stood before Ritz, he assured us that the curse could be broken. The quest for a solution led us to a series of rituals and ceremonies, culminating in a moment of revelation (Peter who followed us which we didn't know of, overheard the conversation.) Peter entered the room and said to Ritz P: What can we do to break the curse? Me and Peggy looked at Peter with surprise and confusion, while Peter's focus was solely on Ritz. R: To break the curse, we must find Grace's spirit and seek her forgiveness. (Sara, Peter, and Peggy embarked on a journey to break the curse and seek forgiveness from Grace's spirit.) After a long effort for days, we found Grace's house and asked the natives of that area. As we reached Grace's resting place around midnight, we saw her ghostly figure. The quest for a solution led us to a series of rituals and ceremonies, culminating in a moment of revelation. Grace (G): Lidia will have to pay a heavy price for her betrayal. To break the curse, she must genuinely repent and seek forgiveness. The curse will lift, but not without consequences. The stolen beauty came at a steep price. You have to expose Lidia's true nature to the world Grace said to us. The once-enchanting salon transformed into a haunted space, echoing with the tormented whispers of Lidia's victims (Sara, Peter, and Peggy returned to Madrid to confront Lidia.) L: (shocked) Sara? Is that you? What happened to your looks? S: I don't want these cursed looks whom you have stolen at the cost of betrayal and murder of your friend Grace. Look in the mirror. L: Turned and to her horror, she saw Grace in the mirror all soaked in blood. Lidia was terrified. Grace put her hands on Lidia's throat and screamed. G: Admit Lidia what you did to me, tell everyone. The world, your staff, and clients including your family must know about your sins. It's payback time. Tell them before I break your neck. (Terrified to hell Lidia confessed all in front of those who were present.) G: I genuinely thought you were my best friend Lidia. I loved you like my real sister. Because of you, I died and in the grief of my death, my parents died as well. All for attaining useless perfect beauty, although we know nothing is perfect. That was the first time Lidia felt utterly guilty and ashamed. She bowed before Grace's spirit after getting out of her clamp and cried inconsolably. L: Please forgive me, Grace, I have realized my mistake. I haven't slept a wink since I lost you...I...I...killed you and I will pay for my sins. Please forgive me... The moment Lidia opened her eyes after crying Grace was not there...Lidia said...ooh Grace, my friend, my sister...I have no words to say how sorry and ashamed I am. (Seems like Lidia, realizing her mistake, sincerely apologized) The voice of Grace came into the ear of Sara in a whisper G: The curse is lifted after Lidia's confession. You must remember, that true beauty comes from within only. (The curse was lifted, and Sara's appearance returned to normal.) As the town learned the truth, Lidia faced the wrath of justice and the people. What she did to Grace will haunt her till death. The mighty, magnificent salon of Lidia, which was once a symbol of allure, became a place of dread and horror echoing tales of betrayal. (Peter and Sara returned home, and their bond strengthened further after facing the challenges together.) Peter told everything to his parents and they finally forgave Sara. Peggy remained on Sara's side the whole time. P: I do not love you for your looks Sara, I love you for the person you are. Your honesty and for what you did to bring justice for Grace. (Sara started crying being emotional. The words of her husband were felt so precious to her.) S: I love you Peter for supporting me and also for forgiving my wrongful acts. I just lost track of my real path I guess...I no longer need external beauty to feel confident. True beauty comes from within that I know now, and our love is stronger than any curse. (And so, Sara and Peter lived happily ever after, their love proving that true beauty is timeless and everlasting.) The twisted tale of beauty, horror, and revenge served as a cautionary tale and message. Telling all that In the end, the pursuit of anything through deceit and betrayal leads to a haunting destiny. The echoes of curses and the consequences of stolen dreams, aims and desires reverberate. Leaving a legacy of caution for those who dared to tread the path of darkness of any sort.