Valentina's Lost Days

by A. P. Hernández

  All his plans have just gone to the trash: finish the career in five years, prolonging his stay at the university one more year; do a master's degree later, thus avoiding going home ... But he does not care. Or at least, he does not care too much. His university education is just a farce. His authentic profession, that for which he has a vocation, will not be altered. In fact, now he can put an end to his resume. Under other circumstances, Ishmael would have continued capturing little girls in chats, staying with them and, finally, cutting short their lives in ways as macabre as ingenious. But how many kids could he have killed before the police detect him? Four, five, six at the most?

  Ishmael knows that, sooner rather than later, the police would end up following in his footsteps (and that if they were not already doing it). So, after all, Lazarus del Rio may have avoided nothing.

  Ishmael heads to classroom 0.29. His colleagues are already at the door, all with ID in hand. The teacher names the students present in list order check their ID and tells them to enter. It goes by the letter "P". Ishmael breathes, relieved; there are still a few ahead until it is his turn. He has time to review his improvised plan one last time:

  Now, Ishmael will sit in the last row of the class. He knows that the teacher will ask him to take a seat in the back of the classroom. They always do it. Due to his first surname, Zamora, Ishmael is the last student by list order. And that has as its only advantage a secure site in the exams at the end of the class. University professors, all equally idiots, have the habit of placing students by list order.

  When the exam begins, and once everyone is focused on the disgusting subject. And after everyone has warming their mind to elucidate if the correct answer is A, B or C, and everyone has let down their guard; Ishmael will open the backpack; he will take out the black Aicok ceramic knife that he bought a few months ago, he will start the slaughter.

  The knife is very sharp and cuts effortlessly. Ishmael does not doubt that he will kill many of his classmates. The only question he has is, how many he can kill before getting attention? How many necks can he slice before the panic spread?

  The neck is the best place to do it. They will suffer intense pain but will fall unconscious to the ground. They will die in a time interval between ten and thirty seconds. That requires courage, and that is why Ishmael knows that his feat will be remembered. After killing GOTI-K, he feels capable. He knows he can do it. It is a difficult test, but he is prepared.

  When thinking about the orgy of blood that is about to trigger, Ishmael feels alive than ever.

  - "Ishmael Zamora Martínez-the professor names him.

  He is the last. All his colleagues have already entered. Ishmael approaches and shows him his ID. The teacher looks at the card.

  - "Are you nervous, Ishmael?" -He asks, returning it to him. - "Are you okay?"

  - "It's nothing, professor." -He smiles at him.

  And without further ado, he enters the classroom 0.29.

  -15-

  Lazarus drives at full speed.

  The engine of his old Corrado is revolutionized and sounds like a bit whining, but it responds well. Lazarus presses the gas pedal all the way. The odometer indicates that he has exceeded 150 km / h.

  The Pío Baroja University has easy access. Lazarus is grateful that it is connected to the A-26 highway; otherwise, he would have to cross the entire center, jump the red traffic lights and lose a few minutes that could be decisive.

  Esteban Zamora was not surprised when talking with Lazarus. In fact, he did not ask about the reason for his call or what was the reason for his interest in his son. When speaking with him, Lazarus had the impression that the owner and founder of SUZA, somehow, already awaited that call. It was as if he knew that, sooner or later, the police would end up asking about his son.

  Esteban assured him that his eldest son is studying Electronic Engineering at the public university. In fact, he indicated that he pays every month more than € 800 for his residence.

  And that's where Lazarus goes.

  To room 2-18.

  -16-

  The exam has just begun.

  The teacher asks for silence and the last murmurs cease. The answer sheets begin to be distributed and, shortly after, the written test.

  The teacher gives the indications: the exam is one hour long, there are 45 questions with three answer options (A, B or C), there is only one correct answer, the errors penalize, although the blank answers do not. The correction criterion is: a bad question removes a good question. For the exam to be corrected, it is necessary to answer 40 questions.

  The teacher informs the class that anyone who wishes to do so still has the right not to appear at the current call. To do this, they must just leave the classroom at a time not exceeding five minutes. After that time, the call will be effective for all those present, and no one can leave the classroom.

  Students read over the questions. New murmurs reappear. They exchange glances among themselves and, after concluding that the exam is very difficult, they begin to leave the classroom.

  Fortunately, few leave. Ishmael sees them go through the corridor. A classmate (Ines, he thinks it is her name), sitting right in front of him also stands up.

  Ishmael sees her disappear on the other side of the door. That imbecile does not know what she has been got away.

  -17-

  Lazarus stands in front of the door with the "ROOM 2-18" sign. Sharpens the ear, but does not hear anything on the other side. It seems that there is no one.

  On his right, in the middle of the hall, there is an ad panel. It is made of cork and, either with pins or thumbtacks, there is an inordinate amount of advertising brochures: "SEEKING FLOOR COMPANION," "I GIVE PARTICULAR CLASSES OF MATHEMATICS GOING TO YOUR HOME. CALL ME FOR MORE INFORMATION "," MOTORBIKE IS SOLD IN GOOD CONDITION,"" ACADEMY MAGISTER. PREPARE YOUR OPPOSITIONS "...

  Lazarus starts the brochure of the Magister academy. He has noticed the texture of the coated paper on which it has been printed. It may work for him.

  He folds it in half and, after checking that no one is observing him, he inserts half of it through the frame of door 2-18. Lazarus slides the pamphlet towards the lock and makes firm movements. Expect to hear the door slip enter in, but ...

  - "It's locked with a key ..." -he realizes.

  That method does not work. And time is running out. Every second that passes, Superrman moves away from a little more. And that, assuming that his father had not warned him. What if Esteban Zamora, after speaking with him, immediately telephoned his son to inform him that a Lazarus del Rio was going to the student residence and was going after him? That is more than likely.

  - "Dammit!"

  He must resort to brute force. Lazarus looks at the wood of the door. It is noticeable that it is fragile. When building the residence, they saved budget at the doors. They are not solid or offer resistance. They are held with only two hinges.

  - "Fuck!"

  Lazarus runs and attacks. Crack the wood, but it is not enough. He needs more strength, more impulse. Lazarus sticks to the opposite wall and, with all the speed he can reach, rushes against the door. His 82 kilos are too much for the slim iron latch. A dry sound is heard, and the door opens.

  -18-

  Lazarus looks under the bed, in the closet, and in the bathroom. No, nobody. He keeps his eyes on the shower foot. The screen is wet, and some drops of water remain attached to the glass.

  - "He has showered recently."

  Lazarus repairs a bag under the sink. The plastic reveals what appear to be the remains of clothes. Lazarus unties the knot and removes the garments: a shirt, pants and black boots.

  They are wet. The liquid is viscous. Lazarus smells it.

  - "Blood."

  He gets up and goes to the main room. He sets out to look through the drawers of the desk, but he does not need it. On the table, there is a paper printed in color:

  CALL FOR JUNE EXAMINATIONS

  DEGREE IN ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING

&nbs
p; Lazarus looks at the legend. The call gathers the exams for the four courses of the degree: those of the first class marked in green; those of the second, in yellow; those in the third year, in blue, and those in the fourth year, in red.

  - "What was Superrman doing? Was it first or second?"

  Esteban Zamora told him about it, but he is not sure.

  Lazarus runs his finger through the exam calendar until he finds the fifth of June. For his luck, there is only one exam. Highlighted in yellow reads:

  Concurrent and Distributed Programming

  CLASSROOM 0.29

  12.00 HOURS

  -19-

  Ishmael knows that the time has come. It has been a quarter of an hour since the exam began and the professor has ceased his surveillance round. Now read a book sitting in front of the digital board.

  Ishmael takes a furtive look around him. He has a partner next to him. He does not know what his name is. It does not matter to him. But he is the only one who can give the alarm. So, he will start with him. It will cut his neck. Nobody will see it. Everyone has his head down, absorbed in his examination. It is as if they were screaming for someone to decapitate them.

  After he kills the partner, he will bend over and goes to the classmate across to him. His long copper hair falls over her eyes like a horse's eyeglasses. She will not see him coming.

  After her, he will go to the companion next door. The very stupid supports the forehead in his right hand as if that would help him to think better. Ishmael knows that he can leap on him without problems.

  - "And there are already three ..." -he thinks.

  But after the third, the most likely thing is that he has attracted attention. From there he will have to improvise. Carry ahead to as many as he can.

  Ishmael takes a deep breath and opens the backpack. Sneakily insert his hand until he feels the handle of his ceramic knife. It is warm. And that comforts him.

  -20-

  Lazarus breaks into the classroom 0.29.

  His noisy entrance has attracted the attention of all students and the teacher. Everyone observes him without understanding who he is or what he is doing there.

  But Lazarus looks for his Superrman. Take a quick look at the perplexed faces of the students, but do not see it. No sign of him. Where has he gotten?

  And then, at the back of the class, notice an empty table. He focuses on it because it is the only one with a sheet on its surface (the exam, he supposes). Where has the student gotten? Whose is the backpack supported against the legs of the desk?

  Lazarus fears the worst. Before the astonished look of the students, and ignoring the warnings of the teacher, who has threatened to call security, Lazarus crosses the hall.

  And there he is.

  The young man is crouched on the floor, crouched behind a classmate. He holds a knife and, seeing him; he was paralyzed. He has caught him with his hands in the dough.

  - "Everybody out! -Shouts Lazarus. - "Out of here!"

  Lazarus runs towards Superrman. The young man brings the blade of the knife closer to his classmates' neck, but before he can touch his skin, Lazarus kicks him in the face.

  He has broken his noses.

  The companions of the back of the class, the first to realize what is happening, begin to shout and flee in a stampede.

  Ishmael regains the verticality and approaches Lazarus. Move the knife with fast and horizontal movements, looking for his neck. The edge of the weapon cuts the air and emits a sound like the hiss of a snake.

  The dance of death begins.

  Ishmael takes a step towards Lazarus, but the former Chief Inspector retreats. The crowd flees and shouts around. Ishmael looks at him as possessed by the devil.

  - "You've fucked up everything!" -He said-. - "My great work!"

  He runs to Lazarus but manages to step away from his path with a step to the right. Superrman has taken too much thrust and passed by. Lazarus takes the opportunity to hit him in the knee. It is a hard and firm kick. Superrman loses his balance and falls flat on one of the empty tables.

  That infuriates him even more, and he clings to the knife as if life were in it. Attempt one last time. Superrman is left-handed and moves the weapon above his head. Lazarus takes advantage of his error. The path is too broad, so he has time to block the impact. He hits Superrman's forearm, and the knife falls to the ground. Lazarus kicks him away from his reach. Then he beat up his ribs. Superrman begins to spit blood. He staggers. It's hard to stay up.

  But Lazarus has not finished with him.

  He takes him by the hair and forces him to look at him.

  - "This is for Valentina,"- he whispers.

  He sinks his skull against the peak of the table.

  DAY 4

  -EPILOGUE-

  Lazarus awaits Marta's arrival.

  Bucephalus purrs in his lap.

  He knows he has been lucky. His Superman, also known as Ishmael Zamora Martinez, is admitted to the hospital and, despite the force with which he slammed his forehead against the corner of the table, his life is not in danger. Neither seems to have suffered brain damage.

  The police took a statement, and Lazarus told everything. He also gave them the recordings of the security cameras of Marta's cottage.

  Ishmael Zamora Martinez was, in effect, a murderer. Soon after, the environmental agents informed the authorities of the discovery of a body in Sierra Vida. The idiot set fire to her, and the smoke alerted the agents. As indicated by the DNA tests, the blood from the burned body matched that found in the laundry bag under the sink in room 2-18.

  - "Big ass," -Lazarus thinks, stroking Bucephalus behind his ears. - "He did not get rid of the bloody clothes."

  They also found material in his room in the residence that links him directly to Valentina's murder. The police found numerous photos of the young woman.

  Apparently, he subjected her to constant harassment. The police did not go into detail with the former Chief Inspector, and Lazarus thanks them. He prefers not to know the martyrdom that girl had to go through.

  The ding-dong of the doorbell brings him out of his stupor. Lazarus gets up, and Bucephalus jumps to get on the cushion next to him.

  It's Marta.

  The lady has changed her mourning dress to another one of a discreet navy blue. It has a round neck and puffed sleeves. She looks ten years younger.

  The lady is carrying a briefcase.

  - "Here he is, Inspector," -she says, depositing it in front of his feet. - "Fifty thousand euros, as I promised to you."

  Lazarus takes it. It's heavy. And that makes him feels bad.

  - "It's a lot of money, Marta." -Weigh it. - "I cannot accept too much ... No ..."

  - "Shut up! Agree?" -Marta sketches a half smile. You have earned it! And God knows it's true! There is no money in the world to pay for what you have done.

  Now ... " -Marta looks at the sky. Now my Valentina can rest in peace ... And I also ..."

  - "I do not know what to say." -Lazarus smiles. - "You praise me, lady!"

  Marta takes off her sunglasses and watches him with her diamond-green eyes.

  - "Tell me, Inspector, do you want to eat?"

  THE END

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  * * *

  [1] *malus: This small tree loses its leaves in winter and can be up to 12 m tall. The trunk is smooth and has yellowish-green bark that turns brownish-grey and cracks with age. The branches are abundant and occasionally thorny, and the crown is irregular. European crab apple.

  [2] Erotic Power Exchange (EPE)*: The definition of EPE is a sexual practice that encompasses bondage, discipline and domination, submission and sadism and masochism, built between participants who voluntarily, and based on a consensus maintain relations with a marked transfer of power.

  [3] ESO* : Secondary Education or Middle School

  [4] Pamela hat*: wide-brimmed sun hat