El Espejo del Sótano
(The Mirror in the Basement)
Adriana Reyes acababa de mudarse a un piso antiguo en el centro de Toledo.
Adriana Reyes had just moved into an old flat in the centre of Toledo.
El edificio tenia mas de doscientos años y las escaleras crujian con cada paso.
The building was more than two hundred years old and the stairs creaked with every step.
Sin embargo, lo que mas le llamaba la atención era el sotano.
However, what caught her attention the most was the basement.
La puerta estaba siempre cerrada con llave y la duena del edificio, Doña Carmen, le habia dicho que era mejor que no bajara allí.
The door was always locked and the building's owner, Dona Carmen, had told her it was better not to go down there.
No hay nada interesante, le explico con una sonrisa que no parecia sincera.
There is nothing interesting, she explained to her with a smile that did not seem sincere.
Una noche de noviembre, Adriana oyo un ruido extrano que venia del sotano.
One November night, Adriana heard a strange noise coming from the basement.
Era un sonido suave, como si alguien arrastrara algo pesado por el suelo.
It was a soft sound, as if someone were dragging something heavy across the floor.
Se levanto de la cama y bajo las escaleras con una linterna.
She got up from bed and went down the stairs with a torch.
La puerta del sotano estaba abierta.
The basement door was open.
Adriana sabia que deberia volver a su piso, pero la curiosidad era mas fuerte que el miedo.
Adriana knew she should go back to her flat, but curiosity was stronger than fear.
Por lo tanto, bajo los escalones de piedra lentamente.
Therefore, she went down the stone steps slowly.
El sotano era frio y húmedo.
The basement was cold and damp.
Habia cajas viejas, muebles rotos y telaranas por todas partes.
There were old boxes, broken furniture and cobwebs everywhere.
No obstante, en el rincón mas oscuro, Adriana descubrio algo inesperado: un espejo enorme cubierto con una sabana blanca.
Nevertheless, in the darkest corner, Adriana discovered something unexpected: an enormous mirror covered with a white sheet.
Quito la sabana con cuidado y se miro en el cristal.
She removed the sheet carefully and looked at herself in the glass.
Al principio, todo parecia normal.
At first, everything seemed normal.
Sin embargo, después de unos segundos, su reflejo sonrio.
However, after a few seconds, her reflection smiled.
Adriana no estaba sonriendo.
Adriana was not smiling.
Retrocedio un paso, con el corazón latiendole en el pecho.
She stepped back, with her heart beating in her chest.
El reflejo levanto una mano y senalo hacia la izquierda.
The reflection raised a hand and pointed to the left.
Adriana giro la cabeza y vio una puerta pequeña que antes no habia notado.
Adriana turned her head and saw a small door that she had not noticed before.
Queria salir corriendo, pero algo le decia que deberia abrir esa puerta.
She wanted to run away, but something told her she should open that door.
En ese momento, oyo la voz de Doña Carmen detrás de ella.
At that moment, she heard Dona Carmen's voice behind her.
Te dije que no bajaras aquí, susurro la anciana.
I told you not to come down here, the old woman whispered.
Su voz sonaba triste, no enfadada.
Her voice sounded sad, not angry.
Doña Carmen se acerco al espejo y lo cubrio de nuevo con la sabana.
Dona Carmen approached the mirror and covered it again with the sheet.
Mi hermana desaparecio en este sotano hace cuarenta años, dijo en voz baja.
My sister disappeared in this basement forty years ago, she said quietly.
Desde entonces, el espejo muestra cosas que no deberian verse.
Since then, the mirror shows things that should not be seen.
Es necesario que permanezca cubierto.
It is necessary that it remains covered.
Siempre.
Always.
Adriana miro la sabana blanca y, por un instante, creyo ver la forma de unos dedos presionando desde el otro lado del cristal.
Adriana looked at the white sheet and, for an instant, she thought she saw the shape of fingers pressing from the other side of the glass.
Subieron las escaleras sin decir una palabra.
They went up the stairs without saying a word.
Aquella noche, Adriana no pudo dormir.
That night, Adriana could not sleep.
Cada vez que cerraba los ojos, veia aquella sonrisa que no era la suya.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw that smile that was not hers.
Key Vocabulary
el sotano the basement
crujir to creak, to crunch
el reflejo the reflection
arrastrar to drag
la telarana the cobweb, the spiderweb
susurrar to whisper
retroceder to step back, to retreat
la sabana the sheet (bedsheet)