by Angela Horn
“I asked Him for guidance.”
Joaquin nodded, only hoping for a few more minutes with Heidi before the end came. He took her hand and held it snuggly in his which caused her to give him an odd look.
“Do you want to pray?” she asked finally.
“No.”
Heidi frowned at him and he readied himself for a lecture. She only returned her gaze to the crucifix.
Feeling a man approaching them, Joaquin moved one of his hands from Heidi to the gun in his shirt.
“Hello, travelers,” the priest said in Spanish. “I’m Father Francisco.”
“I’m Heidi,” she said, shaking his hand.
Joaquin sized up the man and nodded his hello. “We are just looking for a place to rest. We’ll be gone soon.”
“Do you need guidance, my son?”
“No.”
Heidi frowned at Joaquin’s tone then regained her smile for the priest. “We’ve asked the Lord for guidance. It’ll come soon.”
The priest nodded, studying them. “Are you two in trouble?”
“No,” Joaquin said quickly.
Having already considered and rejected the idea of this church as a sanctuary for Heidi, Joaquin needed to get rid of Father Francisco before she said too much.
“Thank you for your kindness, but we are waiting for a sign from God. Then we’ll be on our way,” Heidi said.
The priest nodded, smiling at Heidi, while avoiding Joaquin’s gaze.
“Good luck,” he said, before walking towards the children in the front.
Heidi stared at Joaquin with a peculiar expression. He felt her eyes on him, but refused to meet her gaze much like the priest did his. She suddenly leaned forward and gently kissed his cheek.
“You’re afraid of God’s forgiveness. You wouldn’t be afraid, if you didn’t believe. Trust that He will help us if you ask.”
“I asked for His guidance in the motel and all I received was a mission I can’t complete. Why would I ask for more when I cannot bear what He’s already given me?”
Heidi sighed, leaning her head against his shoulder.
“He’ll tell us what to do.”
“I’m in no hurry,” Joaquin said, glancing at the crucifix. “Being lost is what I do.”
“You’re not lost. You just refuse to admit you know your path. You’re stubborn is all, but God will lead us to our destination and you’ll be unable to deny it any longer.”
“I wish it were that simple.”
“You must save the women,” a voice called out from behind them.
Startled, Joaquin and Heidi turned to find a boy of five or six with a thick mop of black hair and big round eyes. His pants were a size too large while his shirt appeared a size too small. He wore flip-flops on his dirty feet. Watching them, he smiled a partially toothless grin.
“Hello, I’m Heidi.”
“I know. I’m Maximo. Did you know that?”
Smiling, Heidi shook her head. “Do you know who he is?”
“He is a killer. He’ll be your husband, if you don’t die first.”
Heidi’s smile grew and she moved around the pew to sit next to Maximo.
“God shows you things?”
“Yes. Does he show you things?”
“A little. Not as much as you though. He showed you my friends?”
Maximo nodded. “You need to save them and kill the bad men. You should go now.”
Heidi glanced at Joaquin who watched the exchange in disbelief. His mind reeled with explanations that defied the one Heidi latched onto immediately. She waited for him to respond, but he refused to accept any plan that led Heidi to the slaughter.
“It’s a trick,” Joaquin finally said in English when Heidi’s hopeful gaze became too much.
Heidi frowned at Joaquin a moment then smiled at the boy. “Did God tell you to come here?”
“No. Father Francisco lets me stay here since my parents died.”
“You’re an orphan?”
Realizing that at the rate things were going, Heidi would want to adopt the kid, Joaquin stood to leave.
“We need to go.”
“Yes,” Maximo said. “The women are in danger. Go now. It’s God’s will.”
“Thanks, but no thanks,” Joaquin said, pulling Heidi away.
“Good luck and God bless,” Maximo said, waving goodbye.
Heidi waved as Joaquin hurried her out of the church. Feeling a sense of relief upon exiting, Joaquin knew from the expression on Heidi’s face his problems were far from over.
“I’m going back to save my friends.”
“They are not your friends, Heidi. You barely know them. Do you really believe they would risk their lives to save you? Are you really that naïve?”
Heidi scowled at him darkly, clearly ready to lose her temper. Uncomfortable with her staring at him in such a manner, Joaquin decided logic might be a good way to soothe her anger.
“You don’t even know where they are.”
“At the old prison near Hoyo,” Maximo said, exiting the church behind them.
“Go away, kid.”
“She wants me to stay.”
Heidi reached out and caressed Maximo’s head. “He’s right. I do want him to stay.”
“I don’t care what you want,” Joaquin said, yanking her towards the van.
“That’s not true. You’re just scared to save my friends because you worry about me. It’s going to be okay though. God is watching over us and He wants us to do this.”
“I don’t care what He wants. I will not let you die just to make Him happy.”
Heidi dropped to the ground, forcing Joaquin to let go of her wrist.
“You’re like a spoiled brat when you do that.”
Heidi stared at him dismissively. “I’m aware.”
“Listen to me,” he said in English as he crouched down to look her in the eyes. “This boy sees things, but how can we know who shows it to him? If you believe God is working here, you must also see the devil’s hand in our situation. How can you be so sure who is behind his visions?”
“Because I have faith. Things are much clearer for me.”
Shaking his head angrily, Joaquin felt Heidi take his hands.
“You believe you’re unworthy of His forgiveness because you’ve done bad things. I understand you feeling that way. You made a choice to do those bad things though. Now, all you have to do is make a choice to do good things. I see the hope in your eyes. I know you can feel how things are different now. We’re different now. Joaquin, please give into that hope and help me save my friends.”
Joaquin looked away from her and noticed Maximo nodding his head, even though he couldn’t possibly understand what they were saying. The boy appeared convinced Heidi would win this argument and Joaquin was beginning to feel the same way.
“I will save those women, but you must stay behind.”
“No,” Maximo said, wagging his finger. “She goes too. I see you both there. Not one, but two. She goes too.”
Joaquin frowned deeply, not understanding how the boy knew what they were saying.
“You speak English?”
Maximo shook his head. “I saw this in a dream, but my dream was in Spanish. You will take Heidi. I saw that too. You should go now.”
Heidi stood up. “Yes, we should go now.”
Sighing, Joaquin watched her with despair. “How can I fight them all when I have to protect you?”
“Many of the men are gone,” Maximo said. “They search for you. The prison has only a few men, but you need to go before more men come. Go now.”
Heidi reached down and hugged the boy, whispering in his ear. When she released him, she turned to Joaquin.
“You heard him. We need to go.”
A frowning Joaquin studied Maximo who frowned back at him. Heidi walked to the car and waited, but Joaquin could only stare at the all-knowing boy.
“How did your parents die?” Joaquin asked.
“Monsters killed
them. How about yours?”
Wishing he hadn’t asked, Joaquin sighed. “I’m going now.”
“I know.”
“You should go inside with the priest.”
“The bad men have monsters helping them,” Maximo said.
“Okay. Anything else?”
“She loves you. God loves you too, but only one of them will forgive you if you fail.”
Walking away, Joaquin made a mental note not to talk to the boy anymore. Reaching the car, he found Heidi waiting with her arms crossed and a big smile on her lovely face.
“We’re going to save my friends,” she cried, clapping her hands.
“Yes, I know,” Joaquin said, opening the car door.
Starting the engine, he eyed Heidi who waved at Maximo, big smiles on both of their faces. Joaquin’s mind was already on the mess awaiting them as he drove away from the church.
As they headed in the direction of Hoyo, Heidi sighed. “I think God wants us to get married at that church. Wouldn’t that be just perfect?”
Chapter Twelve
Lila’s opening shots and the following chaos finally convinced the humans they were in danger. Having rushed into the kitchen, they waited for Sophie to give them directions. Now, as the gunfire subsided and the sounds of cars crashing increased, they were still waiting.
Sophie watched the gun in her hand tremble and felt the humans’ eyes on her as she hid like a coward. The self-proclaimed loser as a human was now a loser as a hunter. Sophie felt like crying, but knew that would only make the situation worse.
How much Sophie wished to be a hero like Lila. To make God proud as He looked down upon her, but she was afraid of the villains and their evil plans, afraid of the pain and suffering that awaited her, and mostly afraid of failure. God watched on though. She could almost feel His eyes on her and this sense of being judged finally forced her to act.
The humans watched her walk to the kitchen door - towards danger and not away from it. Some of them whispered, but she could hear nothing beyond the beating of her angry heart. Sophie felt stupid moving closer to those who wanted to harm her, but she knew this was her job. God didn’t expect her to do what Lila did, but He expected her to do something.
Sophie left behind the whispering humans and walked into the empty dining area. Outside the chaos had died down, but Sophie sensed the fight wasn’t over. Approaching the restaurant’s front door, she saw villains on the ground, twitching and groaning as they regenerated. She also noticed broken and smoking cars. What she did not see was Lila.
Standing just outside the front door, Sophie waited for some sign. She didn’t know what to do, but she knew standing there doing nothing felt wrong. Moving towards the twitching villains, she pointed her gun at the closest one and fired into its head. The other villains were more than twitching though. They sat up and aimed their weapons at her.
Sophie flinched at the oncoming bullets then cried out when someone’s hands were on her. Roman turned her body so he acted as a shield for the attack. Undaunted by his wounds, he returned fire. The villains flopped to the ground.
“Where’s Lila?” Sophie asked, still cowering against Roman.
“At the hotel, getting us a new car. How are the humans?”
“Okay, but I think there are more villains.”
Roman nodded, turning in the direction of a semi racing towards them. Having dislodged itself from the first semi, the truck now rumbled its way into the parking lot. Sophie began to speak when Roman disappeared. She saw him reappear in the cab of the truck where a quick struggle ensued. The truck groaned to a halt before shutting off completely. In a flash, Roman returned and destroyed the villains on the ground then stood at Sophie’s side.
The sound of approaching sirens concerned Sophie. While Roman seemed to hear them too, he frowned in a way that seemed more afraid than necessary.
“Do you feel that?” Roman asked, studying the now quiet road.
In the restaurant, people began to stir. Across the road at the gas station and fast food joints, patrons poked their heads out to survey the damage. Sophie tried to sense what Roman did, tried to feel the danger, but her nerves were frayed and all she felt was fear.
“Lila,” Roman whispered, grabbing Sophie’s wrist.
For a moment, Sophie felt like she was falling. The sensation tensed her body and she cried out. Just as the panic started to set in, she was standing with Roman in their hotel room.
“Did she already take our stuff?” Sophie asked, needing to hear her voice for comfort.
“She must be waiting in the parking…”
Flinching, Roman grabbed at his chest and Sophie thought they were under attack again. The room was silent though and outside the only sounds were sirens approaching from the interstate.
Grabbing Sophie again, Roman shifted them from the room to the hotel parking lot. Standing next to their old car, Roman studied their surroundings, his eyes frantic.
“She’s over there,” Roman said, moving quickly through the parked cars.
Like Sophie, Lila was tall at around five ten. If Lila were standing, she should be obvious in the parking lot, yet Sophie didn’t see her. Roman though moved with the swiftness of a man knowing his destination.
Roman stopped abruptly next to a large SUV. When Sophie saw Lila, any confidence she felt in herself, let alone the mission, evaporated. Roman moved quickly to Lila’s side, taking her hand and whispering something Sophie couldn’t hear.
Staring at Lila’s lifeless body, Sophie then noticed a pile of fleshy goop near the SUV.
“What is that?”
“A demon,” Roman said quickly, his voice calm as he picked up Lila and moved her to the SUV. “We need to go now.”
Sophie stared at the goop and the pool of Lila’s blood. She hoped to hear a moan or see movement from Lila as Roman laid her in the backseat. Roman might have hoped for the same, but he showed no signs of panic or sorrow. He instead turned back to Sophie and took her hands.
“This looks bad and it makes sense to be scared, but we can’t stay here. The villains and the demon might be dead, but we’re exposed here. Please get in the car and start driving, so I can stay with Lila. Will you do that for me?”
Sophie knew Roman must be afraid, despite the calm in his eyes and steeliness in his voice. She wished he would cry out though and lose his cool, just so Sophie could do the same. Yet Roman refused to give up hope.
Embracing the faith in Roman’s eyes, Sophie hurried to the car. Roman slipped into the backseat, holding Lila’s lifeless body against him. He again whispered to Lila and again his words were met with silence.
“Get back on the interstate and ignore the police. Just head east and I’ll let you know when to change highways.”
“Where are we going?”
“To a safe house. We’ll be there by nightfall.”
“We should go back to Sawyer’s.”
“He can’t help us and I need my people.”
“She’s dead, isn’t she?”
“She’s not dead.”
“She looks dead, Roman. I’m sorry, but she’s gone.”
“I know what she looks like,” he said, his voice filled with an unnatural calm, “but I also know how it feels when she’s dead. God isn’t done with her yet. Just drive as fast as you can and we’ll save her.”
“It’s going to be okay,” Sophie said, pulling past the line of police cars.
Roman nodded. “The Lord can fix this. He can still save her. If you believe it, He’ll reward your faith.”
Sophie nodded, wanting to believe. Speeding up the SUV as she merged onto the Colorado interstate, Sophie listened to Roman’s whispering. His words were soft and calm. While she wanted to feel such calmness too, Sophie knew her friend was gone. Unnerved by the meaning behind Lila’s silence, Sophie sighed again.
“I’m sorry, but I need to listen to the radio to calm me down.”
“Go ahead,” Roman said, pushing hair from Lila’s lax face.
Switching on the radio, Sophie was startled to find the sound way up. As she turned down the volume, she realized REO Speedwagon’s Can’t Fight This Feeling was playing. Roman glanced up and smiled.
Sophie didn’t know what would happen next as they raced into the warming day, but she knew God had the answers. For the time being, this would have to be enough.
Chapter Thirteen
The prison once housed violent criminals. Now, the only prisoners were female aid workers seized in an attempt to distract from the personal nature of Heidi’s kidnapping. Having switched cars just before sunset, Joaquin and Heidi sat in an older model truck not far from the walls of the prison.
Eyeing Heidi in the darkness, Joaquin still hoped to convince her to stay behind. Yet, she seemed determined to storm the castle, based solely on the orders of a child.
Heidi stared at the prison with a strange smile on her face. The anticipation radiating off of her was intoxicating and Joaquin found himself looking forward to causing the cartel pain.
Turning to her, he momentarily enjoyed her beauty before getting down to business.
“You will stay with me. No wandering off. No slowing to help injured women. Stay next to me the whole way. Yes?”
“Yes.”
“I will be very angry if you try to be heroic. These women mean nothing to me. Do you understand?”
Nodding, Heidi was nearly bouncing in her seat. “Do you want to kiss me for good luck like you did at the hotel? Maybe that’ll settle your nerves?”
Joaquin would not allow himself to smile. Her excitement irritated him as much as it invigorated him.
“Do you understand what it’ll be like?”
Nodding again, Heidi said, “They’ll try to kill us, but you’ll kill them first. We’ll find my friends and use the cartel’s vehicles to get away. What if we can’t get to the cars though?”
“When I’m done, there will be no one left to stop us. Although after these men are dead, I’m not sure what we’ll do? If I can’t get you out of Mexico, how will I manage to save the women?”
