Chapter III

On that night, everyone gathered as Cledir had instructed. Children, elderly folks, adults, and teenagers alike eagerly awaited to hear the legend that Cledir was about to tell, especially because he had mentioned that it would be something a bit unsettling, even for those who lived in that village.

Cledir was sitting on a rock, with a bonfire lit so that everyone could see him and he could continue the legend he was about to tell. He looked around and saw that everyone was attentive and eager to hear what would come out of his mouth, which legend he would tell.

The night was beautiful, with bright stars and the moon in its full phase, shimmering, and the sound of nearby owls could be heard.

"Alright, let's begin talking about the legend," said Cledir.

Heloísa and I were sitting together on the ground, while Elizabeth and Vicente were seated in chairs behind us.

He continued:

"A long time ago, during the period when the Portuguese colonized our country, in our region, there was always a phenomenon that occurred every fifty years, tied to the moon. This event would bring a creature out at night, attacking everyone, and it is very dangerous. We all know I'm talking about the werewolf, of course, and that's why we must be cautious.

Every fifty years, the moon changes color, not to red or blue, but to a crimson hue. According to what the elders used to say, this happened when the moon wished to release something or someone from a curse, and so it turned crimson to end the curse.

You might think I'm not saying anything special, but you'd be mistaken. The Crimson Moon occurs every fifty years, and I can tell you it always happens in the Amazon. It's about to happen now, in 2020, and all signs point to it being tomorrow. The last time it occurred was in 1979, so be prepared, because if the werewolf appears, you must flee from it, for if you are bitten or scratched by one, you might end up turning into a werewolf too.

I sighed a bit and continued, as I had everyone's attention.

As for the werewolf, it's not just any werewolf, quite the opposite. The legend says it has crimson eyes and skin, for the moon wishes to purify this werewolf's soul, and that will only happen if he rids himself of a curse through some ritual, whatever it may be."

Everyone was surprised by the legend that Cledir had told. They began to wonder if this would really happen or if it was just another one of the old man's stories.

"Have you ever encountered such a werewolf?" Vicente asked.

"Of course, Vicente, I have. It was in 1970. You see, I was born in 1940, so I didn't witness the Crimson Moon event in those days. It only happened when I was already 30 years old. Now, at 80 years old, I can guarantee it will happen because I've seen it."

As he answered Vicente, I was deep in thought. Perhaps such an event would actually occur, but what if it was just one more of the old man's stories?

Later, I was sitting on the edge of her house, gazing attentively at the moon, which continued to shine brightly. I noticed its color was silvery, pure silver, and this surprised me. It must be because of the legend he had told that I couldn't get it out of my head. I tried to imagine the moon in a crimson hue, but I could never quite picture it.

My grandmother, Elizabeth, approached me and asked, "Are you alright, dear?"

"Yes, I'm fine," I replied. "I'm just trying to imagine how the moon would look in a crimson hue."

The elderly woman smiled and responded, "Well, it's just one of Cledir's stories. The moon can't suddenly change to a crimson hue. Do you understand what I mean?"

I looked at my grandmother and nodded, silently displaying a subtle smile.

Elizabeth returned the smile in kind and walked away from me.

I returned my gaze to the moon while listening to the sounds of crickets and cicadas, which were singing louder and louder. The frogs joined in with their croaking, and I felt a sense of peace in my heart. I didn't know why or how, but I felt it.

Tomorrow, I would take more photos. I felt the need to find something rare, and somehow, I connected that need to the legend I had heard from Cledir. I didn't know what was happening, but I thought I might find something unexpected on the night of the Crimson Moon. I thought about going out at night; perhaps the werewolf was something I would seek. I wouldn't tell anyone to avoid worrying them and would do exactly what I had just thought. I would leave my house at night to search for the werewolf. Imagine if I actually managed to find it. It would be a daunting task to rid myself of it afterward, but I would do it, no matter what.

"Who knows, maybe I can find that werewolf Cledir mentioned," I said.

I would make this sacrifice at all costs. I would get the photo I wanted, but I would also have to take precautions. I had heard that silver objects could easily kill a werewolf. I hated killing anything living, but in this case, I would have to go against my own philosophy.

I felt tired and decided to prepare for sleep. Tomorrow would be a calm day, but the night would be full of expectations and possibilities of what could or could not happen. I was anxious, but I would find a way to control that anxiety.

Now, more than ever, I wanted to find that werewolf, and until then, I would have a plan to protect myself from being harmed or even killed. I had to think of something, but I knew I would find a solution.

And so, I fell asleep in my bed, hoping to encounter the werewolf.