The Deadly Song

In a world where there is a renowned and legendary song that no one dares to listen to because it is believed to drive the listener to suicide, Antonio, a New York City pianist, is compelled to think about the rules of reality.

The song's lethal nature is well known throughout many civilizations. The Greeks referred to it as the siren's song, while the Irish referred to it as the Banshee's Wail. The sun is warm, and water is moist, is a reality as established in our minds as one plus one equals two. According to legend, everybody who listens to it goes insane and kills themselves. The song was dubbed "La Canción del Diablo" by Antonio's parents. His uncle recounts how scared he was when he saw his friend Miguel hanged from his bedroom ceiling after playing the song on his guitar at every family gathering.

Many cultures are fully aware of the song's destructive nature. It was known to the Greeks as the siren's song and the Irish as the Banshee's Wail. The fact that the sun is warm and water is wet are well-established in our brains as one plus one equals two. According to mythology, everyone who hears it goes mad and commits suicide. Antonio's parents dubbed the tune "La Canción del Diablo." When his uncle saw his buddy Miguel hanging from his bedroom ceiling after performing the song on his guitar at every family gathering, he was terrified. He gently tested out the notes on his piano after the concert, altering the pitch, loudness, and rhythm each time, just to see what would happen. When he got to his stop, he began walking toward his apartment building. Six shadowy individuals in black attire abruptly came to a halt beneath a flashing streetlight. One of the men was carrying a knife, and they were all wearing red clothes over their lips. They stomped Antonio's legs and hurried away from the blinking streetlight's glow when he coughed up his cash and handed up his old watch.

Antonio suited up, skipped breakfast, paid his parking meter, and went to lunch with his older brother, Luis, a lawyer who had lately lost "the greatest case of his life." Luis bemoaned that he was "desolate" and "utterly destitute," and he expressed concern that he could be compelled to live in leased housing. Antonio understood that losing a lot of money is difficult no matter how wealthy one is. Still, he couldn't stop himself from exploding and spitting "idiot" at Luis because he was filled with scorching wrath directed at his brother's naivete. With a pale expression, Luis stated that Antonio should no longer anticipate his financial support.

After a fantastic performance of improvisations at a jazz club and a dismal ride home that night, Antonio came across someone laying on the damp ground with blood soaking their clothes, pleading for help. Antonio dashed up to the man who was dying. He was halfway through dialing for an ambulance when he discovered the injured man's neck was wrapped in a crimson bandana. Antonio recognized the man as one of his assailants from the night before. His actions were motivated by vengeance. In the act of misguided revenge, Antonio stole the bleeding man's wallet after kicking him in the ribs. Throughout the event, Antonio's expression remained unchanged. That night, he didn't get much sleep.

Antonio received a call from his father the next day before work. Antonio couldn't understand what his father was saying at first, but he could hear him weeping as he slowed down. “Tu madre, Imelda está muerta,” he cried.

That weekend, cops were patrolling the neighborhood, looking for a dead gang member who had been stabbed by a competitor. They let Antonio go since he didn't tell them anything. It made him realize that life isn't always fair. He committed an illegal act with no repercussions, his mother died young due to chance, and his sibling is blind to poverty because his interests are more profitable than his own. He also began to reflect on his recent musings about how much of La Canción del Diablo one must listen to go insane. He thought still he couldn't stand it any longer, with an ache to study and a need for answers. He snuck up to his piano and rummaged through his stack of papers. He acquired it from his uncle, an old, yellowed sheet of music titled: La canción del diablo. He shook his head and placed the sheet on the music shelf. He took part in the game.

He didn't feel insane after the first line. He didn't feel insane after the second line. He didn't feel insane after the third, fourth, or last lines. He didn't want to shoot himself or fall on a blade, so his hands slipped on the previous string, and nothing occurred. He didn't feel joyful; he felt deceived and perplexed; this was his reality, as accurate as of the blue sky. He stepped outside, bewildered, and strolled into the bright street. What other lies had he been told? His loving mother had always warned him that the moment he looked at the sun, he would go blind, but Antonio peered at the sun, and despite the pain in his eyes, his vision remained intact.

His mind was racing; he would be renowned; he had identified a flaw in the universe's reality; he could have shown that gravity increases with altitude, grass becomes purple, and one plus one equals seven. He began to wonder why the untruth had been disseminated. He grew to believe that humans could not be harmed and that the lies were propagated to keep the population in check. He needed to inform the people of his newfound wisdom, but how? He couldn't contact the newspaper because they wouldn't believe him, and the cops wouldn't do anything because they work for the government and would most likely already know. He couldn't inform the church since they were the ones who most likely began the deception. He'd have to stage a demonstration in the open. He proceeded along the main street and had an idea: he'd jump in front of the next bus and walk away unharmed. A bus was right around the corner, as luck would have it. He leaped in front of the car.

The deadly song claimed another victim.