No Estás Solo (You Are Not Alone)
Written by Diego Postigo and Luis Alonso Castañeda
In "You're Not Alone," we meet Alex, a high school senior spending his summer rehearsing a horror play with his friends. His happiness is shattered when his childhood bully, Carlos, transfers to his school and demands a role in the play. Alex's fears materialize into a haunting monster, reflecting his unaddressed anxieties. It's a tale of mental health, unspoken fears, and the reassurance that we're not alone in facing our inner "monsters."
Short Story: The Artist's Dilemma
Written by Diego Postigo
There was no stopping her from gracing the stage...
I couldn't wrap my head around what I had just done to her; it had to be some twisted nightmare. I was unwilling to accept the harsh reality unfolding before me. However, as her once vibrant green eyes turned a haunting gray, her once lush red lips now a dry shade of violet, and her warm, ivory skin turned cold and lifeless, the truth hit me like a ton of bricks – I had taken her life. Mr. Carlos entered the dressing room, and it didn't take him long to spot the unfolding tragedy, both Gabriela's lifeless form and my shirt stained with her blood. I met his gaze, telling him the raw, unfiltered truth. I had just thrust a piece of glass into the lead actress, altering the script of our lives forever. He couldn't fathom that it was an accident; he knew too well the tension that simmered between Gabriela and me. The inevitability of our clash had finally caught up with us, but we never anticipated it happening a mere five minutes before the grand finale that would define our artistic paths.
In the whirlwind of moments that followed, an idea took root – the idea of cutting into Gabriela's skin, using her visage as a disguise, stepping onto the stage, assuming her role. It was an undignified and absurd plan, but in those frantic minutes, it seemed like the only way to prevent Carlos from dialing the authorities, my desperate attempt to escape the jaws of fate. So, Carlos and I embarked on this macabre collaboration; he meticulously cut the skin, while I applied makeup to mask the madness within. Moments later, I stood there, ready to step into a grotesque semblance of Gabriela. The scent and feel of her skin were unbearable, but I kept silent, not wanting to exacerbate Mr. Carlos's already shaken state. It was only a matter of seconds until the pivotal moment arrived. Carlos wished me luck, and I took my hesitant steps onto the stage. The final monologue began, and thankfully, the theater remained shrouded in darkness. I clung to the hope that this bizarre charade might just work – that Carlos would find a way to dispose of Gabriela's lifeless body, and perhaps, we could share a few beers and forget the nightmare that had befallen us. As I basked in the spotlight, enjoying the applause from the audience, I finally felt the recognition that had always eluded me, stolen by the troublesome Gabriela. Then, as the lights dimmed, the atmosphere in the room shifted from admiration to horror. It wasn't until Gabriela's mutilated face hit the stage that applause turned into terrified screams. The audience erupted in chaos, and Mr. Carlos glared at me once more, his face a twisted medley of anger, repulsion, and profound disappointment.