Saint Death

by Devan Sagliani

  “Is this the man you're talking about?” Reyes asked.

  Jamie's eyes immediately lit up when she saw him.

  “Yes! That's him!” She pointed wildly at the picture with her finger. “I'd know those eyes anywhere.”

  “I have an idea where they might have taken them,” Reyes said with a frown. He grabbed his car keys off the desk and hurried towards the door. “There's a religious compound just outside of town that is rumored to practice black magic on unwilling participants. That man you identified is associated with them. We'll have to move fast if you want to see your friends alive again. Come with me.”

  “Wait,” Jamie said, following behind him like a lost puppy. “Where are we going?”

  “North,” Officer Reyes replied without looking back. “Let's just hope we can get there in time.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Zack's head was ringing and his back hurt. He opened his eyes but his vision was blurry and wouldn't adjust to wherever he was. He sat up, realizing as he did that his hands were bound together. He stared down at them, the pain in his temples throbbing, his throat dry and sore. He tried to remember where he was or how he had gotten there, but his head felt fuzzy. Slowly his eyes began to adjust and he saw that his hands were tied together with leather straps. He was sitting on the cool floor of an empty barn in what appeared to be some sort of makeshift jail cell. He heard a low groan and turned to see Dave was in the cell with him, his hands bound together too.

  “Ouch, my fucking head,” Dave said, sitting up and doing his best to rub his face with his restrained hands.

  “Dave? Oh thank God man. I thought I was alone here for a minute,” Zack said, his voice sounding scratchy and raw.

  “What the fuck happened?” Dave asked, still trying to collect himself. “The last thing I remember I was about to get it on with two hot lesbians.”

  “I think we were drugged,” Zack said, frantically looking around the darkened barn.

  “What are you looking for?” asked Dave.

  “Jamie,” Zack said. “I don't see her. Maybe she got away.”

  “Yeah and maybe she was in on it,” Dave huffed. “You ever think about that?”

  “In on what man?” Zack fired back.

  “Whatever the fuck this creepy shit happening to us right now is,” Dave said. “Is that blood on the floor? Jesus fucking Christ man. What the fuck is going on?”

  “Whatever it is I got a really bad feeling about it,” Zack said.

  “Me too,” said Dave.

  “I'm serious man,” Zack said frantically. “I don't mean to sound like a coward but I'm scared shitless right now. This shit is freaking me the fuck out. What the fuck is going on?”

  “Hold up,” Dave whispered as the barn door swung open and light flooded in from outside. “Someone is coming.”

  “Good,” Zack whispered back. “Maybe we'll get some answers.”

  “Just be ready to fight the minute they open the cell door,” Dave hissed. “We may only get one shot at this so watch for my lead then just swing for your life!”

  Angel and Hector walked confidently up to their cell like construction buddies happy to be finishing a tough job and ready to party all weekend.

  “You putos ready to meet your maker?” Angel asked as he unlocked the cell door and stepped inside.

  “You're making a big mistake,” Dave started but Angel cut him off.

  “No pendajo,” he laughed. “You made the mistake, trusting those whores. And now you're going to pay with your life.”

  “I've got money,” Dave said quickly, changing tactics. “Lots of money. I can pay you. Please. Just tell me how much you want to let me and my friend go.”

  “We don't want your money Guerro,” Angel glowered. “Quien con el diablo haya de comer, larga cuchara ha menester.”

  Dave and Zack turned to each other, their faces both gone sallow and white as the realization that their impending death was likely just moments away. All of the plans they'd just made to overpower their captors seemed to vanish at once, like vapor rising in the heat of the morning sun.

  Zack felt his lips trembling as he began to babble.“You don't have to do this,” he argued, his brain desperately searching for a way out of the impossible situation he'd found himself in as Angel lifted him to his feet. “Seriously. If you let us go we'll run away and never tell anyone. I swear.”

  “Callate guey,” Angel said, backhanding Zack so hard across the face that he saw stars and both his ears rang. The pain was extraordinary and the fear coursing through his veins seemed to amplify it. He looked over in horror at Hector who was having a hard time getting Dave on his feet. Hector yanked Dave up again and again but each time Dave refused to remain standing. Although he'd gone mute he was far from done fighting and clearly had no intention of helping his murderous kidnappers’ dispose of him. Hector leaned over and delivered a sharp rabbit punch to Dave's kidneys. The clouded look of confusion and fear he'd had before burned away as white hot anger rose up in his eyes. Dave glared at Hector, who held him firmly by the hands and yanked once more. He kicked at Hector's legs, hitting him in the shins and causing him to wince and curse and jump up and down in howling pain. Hector angrily drew a buck knife from his jeans pocket and turned on Dave but Angel called out to him.

  “No! They'll kill us all culero. Just drag him by the hair if you have to!”

  Hector grabbed a handful of Dave's hair and began yanking him along. Dave screamed in pain. His hands shot to his head while his legs uselessly kicked and flailed behind him. Hector shoved the knife blade less than an inch from Dave's face and screamed at the top of his lungs. Dave went silent and stared at it in shock.

  “You see this? You want me to cut your balls off? Keep giving me a hard time and watch what happens,” Hector threatened.

  Angel looked annoyed. He shoved Zack forward out of the cell and towards the open barn door. For a split second Zack considered running as fast as his legs would carry him. He knew it was insane, that he'd never make it but the impulse was so overwhelming it made his skin crawl.

  I could never leave my best friend behind, he thought, his heart racing nearly as fast as his thoughts. I could never live with the guilt if I survived.

  Zack turned back to see that Hector had finally gotten Dave on his feet and was walking him out of the cell. There was a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach as they passed him, like someone had poured cold cement into his guts.

  “Let's go,” Angel said, shoving him along. The sun was already beating down mercilessly on them. The brightness blinded Zack, forcing him to look down to keep from tripping as Angel slowly marched him along. His mind felt oddly clear and empty. He'd run out of ideas on how they were going to escape. All that was left was the sensation of pure fear. He could taste it in his mouth, intense and acidic, like sucking on a fresh battery.

  Please God, he thought. Please help us! Don't let me die here!

  He looked up in surprise to see a dozen young naked women painted up like skeletons, gathered around the Santa Muerte statue. The youngest of them looked no more than twelve years old. Maria stood in front of them holding a ceremonial dagger she'd brought out for the occasion. She nodded at Angel, her silent gesture urging him to bring the hostages to her faster, before turning back to greet her guest of honor. He was not like the other visitors that they had received during their ritual sacrifices. He was a thin, bald man with a well-manicured goatee wearing a suit and collared shirt with the top button undone. He wore expensive designer sunglasses and matching dress shoes with a high mirror shine that reflected the scorching Mexican sun.

  “Ramon, I offer you this ceremonial scythe, symbolizing death's unforgiving power over all of mankind,” Maria said, handing him her blade. The man set it respectfully at the statues feet.

  “I prefer to use my own tools if you don't mind,” Ramon said, setting his dark suitcase near the blood stained alter and unlocking it. By the time he had opened the lid the look on Maria's face h
ad gone from accommodating to euphoric. Zack sensed whatever was in the case, whatever had made her that happy to see, couldn't be good for him and Dave. As Angel brought him around to the front of the statue he got a good look inside the briefcase and his suspicions were confirmed. An array of sharp metal tools that included a scalpel, knives, and several metallic motorized devices made it clear that they were not in for a quick and painless death. He fought the urge to piss himself.

  “In honor of such a prestigious guest, and devoted follower of Santa Muerte, I have brought you not one but two American males for your offering to Holy Death,” Maria said in a festive tone. “The prayers have already been sung and the offerings have been presented by these anointed virgins. You may begin as soon as you are ready.”

  Dave began to struggle as the man with the cruel grin approached him but Hector held him in place with the buck knife to his throat. The hit man took Dave by the face and stared into his eyes looking for something, twisting his jaw back and forth. Dave began to pant but never blinked or took his eyes off of the man. When he was done inspecting Dave the well-dressed killer turned to Zack who immediately stared at the ground.

  “Him,” the man said, excitement growing in his beady eyes. “I'll start with this one.”

  Angel walked Zack forward and forced him to his knees in front of the man, leaving him eye level to the man's designer belt logo.

  I'm going to die, Zack thought in panic. He's going to kill me while they all watch!

  “Please,” he cried. “Please don't hurt me. Please just let me go.”

  Zack began to openly weep and beg for his life, which only seemed to excite his executioner more. Reaching into his case full of torture devices Ramon took a curved blade from his briefcase and held it up so Zack could see it.

  “Let's start with your eyes,” he said. An eerie chill came over Zack as the man began to slowly move the blade towards his face. He squirmed but Angel held him in place. Just as the tip of the knife was about to puncture his iris the sound of a car engine distracted Ramon, causing him to pull back and turn away. Zack gasped, realizing he hadn't been breathing anymore. He looked up to see a police car with the lights on pull up and park a few feet away from them. The cop he'd seen earlier at the resort when they were checking in, Officer Reyes, got out of the driver's side with his gun drawn. All the cult members froze in surprise but the cartel killer simply smiled. Jamie scurried from the passenger side, her arm extended, her finger pointing at Hector and Angel.

  “That's them officer,” she said. “Those are the men who took my friends.”

  “Are you sure?” Officer Reyes asked. “You said you only got a glimpse of them as they carried your friends out.”

  “I'm positive,” she confirmed. He turned back and addressed the crowd.

  “What's going on here?” Officer Reyes demanded.

  “It's nothing Officer,” Maria said with a smile. “Just performing a religious ritual. It's an old local custom.”

  “Don't listen to her,” Jamie yelled. “They kidnapped my friends. Look! They're torturing them! Can't you see? You've got to arrest them!”

  Officer Reyes brought his gun up in one clean motion, put the barrel to Jamie's head, and pulled the trigger. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as a bloody rain of brains and skin sprayed out the opposite side of her skull as she toppled over instantly dead. Any hope Zack had been holding onto evaporated as time seemed to stand still. Reyes hesitated a moment before stepping over her body and approaching them.

  “Jesus fucking Christ son,” he said, looking at Angel. “I'm getting sick and tired of always having to clean up your messes.”

  “It's not my fault dad,” Angel said, shrugging his shoulders. “She wasn't supposed to still be alive. I'll see to it that those responsible pay for this outrage.”

  Zack watched in horror as Officer Reyes leaned over and planted a big kiss on Maria's lips. The old witch swooned with delight but the cop pulled back with a concerned look on his face.

  “I've been taking a lot of heat about these kids disappearing,” Reyes informed her. “I hope this is almost done.”

  “These are the final sacrifices Papi,” Maria cooed. “Soon this place will be nothing more than a burning pit of charred and unrecognizable bodies and we'll have moved up the coast without a trace.”

  “Good,” Reyes said. “I don't need any more grief from the Commandante. He's been riding me all morning. If he wasn't so close to the Governor he'd be lined up right next to these pathetic losers after the way he spoke to me.”

  “All things in due time,” Maria said with an evil grin. “Now, let's get back to the business at hand. Carry on, Ramon.”

  “You are full of surprises,” Ramon laughed. The cartel hitman turned to Maria, spinning the shining knife blade around anxiously in his hand like an impatient child. “I like that, but it's time to get back to business if you don't mind.”

  “Oh yeah,” Dave said, finally finding his voice again. Zack spun toward him in surprise. “Let's see how you like this little surprise asshole!”

  While the others had been distracted Dave had frantically been working on freeing his hands. There was just enough slack in the leather strap cinched around his wrists to wriggle his wrists together, loosening the bind that kept his hands immobile. Combined with the sweat and oil from his natural secretions Dave had been able to work the straps loose enough to slip out of them altogether. In one quick motion he reached up and grabbed the blade Hector held to his throat, twisting it out of his hands. Hector was so surprised he didn't have time to react before Dave slammed the blade as far into his left eye as it would go. Hector let out a high pitched howl like a wounded animal, bringing both hands up to his punctured face and backing away squealing.

  “Eat shit motherfucker,” Dave screamed.

  It happened so fast that Zack almost couldn't believe it. Pandemonium spread as a series of lightning quick reactions happened all at once around him. Knowing that their lives depended on his quick thinking and that this was the only chance they'd get to live, Dave didn't waste a single second. He lunged forward and jammed the knife to Angel's throat with one hand, holding him against it with a firmly gripped hand full of hair and causing his neck to snap back. Officer Reyes turned his gun on them but Dave had moved back behind Angel's bulky frame for cover and he had no clear shot. Reyes cursed with impotent rage, a long string of Spanish words pouring out of him like a hex.

  “Untie my friend and let him up,” Dave demanded. “Do it or I'll cut his fucking head off. Now!”

  Officer Reyes lifted Zack to his feet and gruffly unwound the leather strap binding his hands together. Zack winced as the blood rushed back into his hands again, wriggling his fingers.

  “Now hand him the gun,” Dave ordered, forcing the blade against Angel's skin and drawing a trickle of blood to show he was serious.

  Officer Reyes handed the weapon over to Zack. The barrel was still warm from shooting Jamie. He looked down at her lifeless corpse. He felt an overwhelming urge to use the gun on the dirty cop for what he'd done, but held back, knowing this would be their only chance to escape.

  “I hope you got a good plan to get us out of here Dave,” Zack said.

  “I'm working on it,” Dave said. “Just stay with me.”

  “What are you doing?” Ramon asked, the note of sheer incredulity in his voice clear as a ringing church bell on a quiet Sunday morning. “You're acting like cowards! Kill them all!”

  He turned and threw his curved blade at Angel's head, but he missed. The weapon found another target, sinking up to the hilt in the throat of a nearby cult member. She fell over without a sound and died. Several other female devotees screamed at the top of their lungs. Soon all of them were running back towards the barn, stampeding and trampling one another like panicked animals in a forest fire.

  “Nobody threatens my son!” screamed Officer Reyes as he grabbed Ramon by the throat and lifted him off the ground. Ramon looked up at the tall man with a mixtur
e of fear and surprise. Before he could speak Reyes twisted his head with both hands, snapping his neck with a sickening crunch. The feared cartel hitman who had tortured and killed hundreds of innocent and not so innocent people to death for fun and profit was dead before he hit the dirt.

  Maria let out a wild cry and rushed at Dave like a feral animal, clawing and scratching him. Dave kicked Angel's legs from underneath him, trying to use him as a shield against the old witch but instead they all toppled to the ground in a pile. Angel wrestled the knife free from Dave and stabbed him in the side, sinking the shining metal all the way in. Dave let out an animal roar as the blade sunk in. Holding the gun with both hands Zack leveled it at Angel and pulled the trigger. The resulting kick caused a jolt of raw pain to shoot up his arms. The gun nearly flew out of his hands but Zack fought through the pain and held on. The hot slug caught Angel in his right shoulder, causing him to let go of the handle of the buck knife, still neatly lodged firmly into Dave's lower abdomen. Angel scrambled back holding the tender flesh where the bullet had ripped through muscle and lodged in the bone. Officer Reyes advanced on him with a murderous rage in his eyes but Zack stopped him dead in his tracks by pointing the smoking gun directly in Maria's face.

  “One more step and I blow her fucking brains out,” Zack assured him, the crazed look in his eyes making it crystal clear he meant exactly what he'd said.

  “If you harm one hair on her head,” Reyes began but Zack cut him off.

  “You'll do what?” His eyes were wild with anger as he spoke. “Torture us to death? Maybe sell us to the highest bidding cartel to be cut into little pieces for your sick devil worship cult? There is nothing left for you to threaten me with so shut the fuck up asshole.”

  “Hey buddy,” Dave said in a strained voice. “I hate to cut you short but I'm losing a lot of blood over here. We need to take this show on the road and fast.”

  “Stand up,” Zack ordered. Maria complied without comment, giving him a dirty look. Zack kept the gun trained on her as he helped his friend to his feet. “Can you make it to the car?”