🪓𝒞ℴ𝓃𝓃ℯ𝒸𝓉𝒾𝓃ℊ 𝓂ℴ𝒷 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝒸𝒶𝓇𝓉ℯ𝓁

🪓𝒲ℯℯ𝓀 2

𝓒𝓱𝓲𝓱𝓾𝓪𝓱𝓪-𝓜𝓮𝔁𝓲𝓬𝓸
5:30 𝓟𝓜
𝓜𝓸𝓷𝓭𝓪𝔂 27 𝓙𝓾𝓵𝔂 2009

Savannah has been held captive in the Mexican castle for more than thirteen days. It has been a challenging experience marked by fear, hopelessness, and solitude. She was only allowed to leave her room for her daily shower, and she was always accompanied by Nacho, the twins, or Tuco. Aside from the woman who brought her meals, she had no contact with anyone else. As the days passed, her hope of reuniting with her family dwindled.
Despite the circumstances, her captors ensured that she had everything she needed. They even provided her with new clothing, soap, shampoo, and conditioner upon request. However, it remained a prison, a dangerous place where she spent most of her time sleeping, hoping for a swift resolution to her situation.
She lets out a sigh and gazes out the window. She is unable to go outside due to the silver bars blocking her way. The sun shines brightly upon the tall palm trees. She brushes her long hair away from her face and fidgets with the small red garment Tuco gave her. He certainly had a sense of style, that much was undeniable. However, she could not comprehend why he would give her clothes instead of simply letting her go. She remains silent, her only desire being to forget the events that had transpired.
She looks up in surprise when she hears the sound of a key. The lock makes a slight noise as the door slowly opens. Nacho peeks through the opening and smiles at her. "Come," he says. Savannah hesitantly stands up. Is this it? Is this the moment they decide what to do with her? Will they release her after all this time? Or, even worse, kill her...She approaches him with caution. He takes her wrist and closes the door behind her. Sensing her trembling, he murmurs, "Relax." As Nacho unlocks the front door, Savannah closes her eyes to the sudden warm light. Nacho leads her to a garden table and gestures towards a black rattan chair. "Please, sit," he says, walking to a chair diagonally across from her.
She gulps nervously, trying to avoid the curious gazes of Marco and Leonel, who are seated on either side of her. Tuco takes a seat opposite her, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "Hello," Lalo greets her warmly. Savannah remains silent, her anxiety evident. Lalo chuckles softly and opens a drink. "Would you like a beer?" he inquires politely. She shakes her head, her nervousness palpable. "As you wish," he chuckles, taking a sip of his own beer. He exchanges a few words in Spanish with his gardener, who promptly leaves. "We thought you could use some cheering up," he explains. Savannah manages a forced smile. When a young boy approaches with a glass of Jarritos, she looks up hesitantly. "Watermelon," he says pleasantly before quickly departing.
Lalo takes a sip from his bottle. She gazes uneasily into Tuco's dark eyes. The dark eyes did not take their gaze away from her for a second. When Leonel removes a leaf from her long hair, she shudders. "Aaah," chuckles Lalo as servants approach with plates full of food. "You are going to love this," he adds eagerly. While a lady places a full plate in front of her face, her heart beats like a galloping horse. Her hungry stomach is teased by the fragrance. Lalo smiles amused as she does not start to eat. "Do not worry, it is nothing else but Pozole, you should try.""It's not poisoned," Tuco says. Lalo chuckles as Savannah cautiously takes a small bite, unable to deny the tastiness of the food. They certainly know how to cook for a group of murderers. "See," Lalo chuckles, but Savannah remains silent, preferring to eat quietly. This feels like her final dinner for some reason. Why else would they suddenly invite her? Despite the crowded and noisy conversation around her, she peacefully enjoys her meal. Whether it's her last supper or not, she's hungry and the food is delicious. And yes, Lalo was right, it's nice to be outside in the sun for a while. When Marco chuckles, she glances up in surprise, and to her great astonishment, Leonel speaks! They don't seem to be paying much attention to her, which is already noteworthy. She silently prays that she can escape Tuco's intense gaze.
"So Bonita," Lalo abruptly turns to her and says, "Excuse me, I didn't quite catch your name." Savannah is taken aback and stops eating. "It's Savannah," she replies softly. "I apologize," he says, moving closer. "My name is Lalo. It's nice to meet you, Savannah." Savannah swallows and manages a smile. "So, Savannah, where are you from?" Lalo asks politely. Savannah hesitates for a moment, wondering why he is asking. "I'm from Santa Fe," she replies. "Are you a native-born American?" Lalo asks curiously. "No, my father was Italian," Savannah explains. "Ah, I see!" Lalo chuckles. "I knew you weren't American. You have a unique look." Savannah smiles politely. "Juan, could I have some more Mexican cola, please?" Lalo asks. Then, turning back to Savannah, he adds, "Italiano. That makes you... Latina, right?" Tuco chuckles with amusement, as do Nacho and the twins. Savannah gulps. She is unsure if he insulted or teased her. "Relax," Lalo laughs and shakes his head. "We are simply going to have a good time." Savannah nods, appearing uneasy. She looks up to the lad who hands her a bottle of Jarritos Mexican Cola.
It does not take long for the empty dishes to be replaced with something delicious. "You are going to enjoy this. It is a marbled tres leches cake," Lalo explains. Savannah begins to eat the chocolate cake without a response. She could not help but silently praise the cake. Oh my goodness, this is delightful. How on earth could something be so delicious? They certainly know what is good for a group of psychos.
""Excuse me, Savannah," Lalo begins politely. Savannah raises her eyes to the elderly gentleman in the wheelchair next to him. An air tube extends from his nose, and a white hat sits atop his hairless, diminutive skull. His finger rests on a golden bell attached to his wheelchair, and his eyes are filled with curiosity rather than rage. "Could you please tell me what happened to your father?" Savannah blinks and returns her gaze to Lalo. "Why do you ask?" she inquires politely. "You mentioned that my father was Italian, so I am curious to know what exactly transpired." "My father had an unfortunate accident," she laments sadly. Lalo simply nods in understanding. "I am deeply saddened to hear that," he says with genuine concern.
""Campfire?" She looks up at him, taken aback. He smiles as he extends his hand towards a bonfire further out in the garden. He takes his beer and stands up without waiting for her response. Tuco growls briefly before pushing the wheelchair aside. "Don't worry, Tito, I've got you covered," he mutters. Nacho gives her a gentle smile, but it doesn't alleviate her apprehension. She walks cautiously between Leonel and Marco, holding her Mexican cola, unsure of what to expect. However, it seems that Lalo was truthful. They simply want to enjoy a peaceful evening. Is this something they do regularly? The crickets chirp in the tall grass, and the sun has set, leaving behind a dark sky adorned with countless stars. The blazing fire gently illuminates the garden. Every once in a while, Nacho kindly offers her a perfectly toasted marshmallow. However, Savannah still feels goosebumps and the fire's warmth is insufficient to fully comfort her. She looks up in astonishment as the unexpected happens. Marco Salamanca courteously places his coat around her shoulders. In the midst of the flames, his purple tunic and double-shoulder holsters radiate a brilliant glow. He acknowledges her with a nod. She responds with a grateful smile and slips her arms under the jacket, which exudes a pleasant floral fragrance. Lalo and Tuco are both engaged in a boisterous conversation, seemingly oblivious to their surroundings. Savannah takes a moment to discreetly observe Nacho, noticing a distinct quality in his eyes. There is a gentle, yet unsettling aura about him, as if he carries a heavy burden. His gaze reflects a profound sadness, hinting at past experiences that have left him shattered. It is evident that he has witnessed much pain and suffering. Savannah, unable to suppress her weariness, lets out a soft yawn.
""Would you like to rest?" Lalo inquires, glancing at the young lady wearing Marco's jacket. Savannah pauses momentarily before giving a nod. Lalo chuckles softly and gestures towards Tuco, who rises gradually. "I shall return shortly, Tito," he says as he approaches Savannah. "Come," he commands in a gentle tone. Savannah gulps nervously. She abruptly changes her mind. Why should -pardon me, I cannot avert my gaze- escort her to her... quarters? She stands up and follows Tuco down the dimly lit and silent corridors towards her chamber, letting out a soft sigh. Tuco remains silent throughout the entire journey, not even sparing her a glance. Savannah's heart races like a wild mustang. She rushes inside and smiles gratefully as he unlocks the door. She politely offers Marco his jacket and attempts to leave the room, but Tuco appears. His lips are curled in a mischievous grin. "Tuco, please dont," she requests, but he disregards her plea. He takes her and puts his fingers down her leg beneath her dress, ignoring her protestations. ""No," she pleads softly and attempts to release herself from his grasp. Tuco chuckles softly. "Do you think you can escape so easy?" Savannah is having difficulty dealing with the muscular Mexican. She does everything she can to keep him off her body. Tuco chuckles in response, seemingly aroused by her reaction. "Tuco," she says in a stern tone, making an attempt to take possession of his firearm. "Oh, oh," he chuckles once more, placing the gun on the nightstand. He shoves her up against the closet and lifts her dress with his hands. "I waited a long time for this," he chuckles. She kicks him in the balls with a rush of boldness and energy. She turns around, retrieves the revolver from the closet beside her, and repeatedly strikes his skull with the hilt. "I feel the same way," she says as he falls to the ground. She takes a deep breath and swallows. Her hands shake slightly. She glances around cautiously. She mutters to herself, "Think, Savannah, think." She carefully removes the keys from Tuco's belt and closes the door. That gate... that gate should have a key. She cautiously peers down the dimly lit hallway. Before proceeding to the backdoor, she inspects the room. She wonders how she will sneak by all the individuals in the garden. The door makes a slight creaking sound. She leans against the house, trying to merge with the shadows. "Hello!" Lalo exclaims. Her heart races like a galloping horse. "Oh god," she quietly utters. However, Lalo merely raises his hand to call a young man nearby. She releases a gentle exhale as she gracefully glides through the shadows towards the small gate in the fence. This was her sole chance... She fearfully glances over her shoulder as she struggles with the latch. A tiny spark of joy ignites within her as the lock clicks open. "Farewell, unpleasant monsters," she softly murmurs as she closes the gate.