Hermosa Asesina

three

Two days have passed.

Two days have passed since I've last had contact with Nathaniel. Until now.

Nathaniel is calling...

I stare at the User ID before hesitantly picking the phone up.

"Hello?" I whisper trying to not make a lot of noise since the sun is barely coming up.

"Madeline." He says, his voice monotone. "How are you?" His question reminds me to look at my bandages and see the blood pathed get smaller and smaller every time I change them.

"Good Nathan." I let out a long breath and sat up on my bed. "I want to apologize for - I'm sorry."

"It's okay Maddie. But, we have things to discuss regarding the Marquez's." I finger-comb my hair and sigh.

"Can it wait? I want to explain myself and apologize I-"

"It can't wait Maddie. You can apologize later but now just listen." He groaned, his voice stern.

"The Marquez's have a tradition, it's with every new member, even I had to do it at some point." I take the phone, press it against my shoulder, and grab ahold of a bottle of water that was sitting on the nightstand. "It's a game of hide and seek."

What.

I giggle a little hearing the silly request.

"Maddie," he sighed. "It's a final test. To make sure you're ready to join."

"Nathanial, this doesn't sound serious."

"Maddie, just listen." My sit up straight and rest my chin on my palm. "The game is you versus 5 seekers. But, they're all armed and trying to kill you." My eyes shot open.

"What, wait what do you mean? Whose gonna willingly set themselves up to possibly be killed?"

"They don't choose, it's the enemies of the Marquez's who are fighting for their freedom. They kill you, they're all free. You kill them, you're in. it's a way for them to psychically be able to see your strength." My breathing gets heavier and my eyes start to weigh themselves down.

A part of me wants to ask what if I don't go but the other half of me knows the answer.

"Wait so you, won it?" I ask having thoughts race through my mind. Five people chasing me trying to kill me. It's a situation I've been through training for, but have never actually been in.

"Yes, not without some scars but I won it, I know I told you being jumped in was the last test but I didn't think you'd even go through with that. Just listen Madeline," he pauses and I hear shuffling on the other end of the line. "They all have a weapon of their choosing, you too. Don't pick anything big, it'll slow you down. That means no sniper. The people chasing after you are trained, and most were caught as sacrifices for their bosses. They're stronger and bigger than you. I know that's no problem for you with your training but you need to be strategic with how you go about things. They're equally as trained as us." His voice sounds sorrow. I know he's worried for me. He has no reason to be.

"When will this be?" I ask. I need to be in good condition for whenever this will be. I'm still healing.

"It's spontaneous, no one is told when it will be, just know it's always at night, they'll kidnap you and put you in a small lot of land they own, a Forrest." My eyes shoot open.

"They can't bust in here Tatum will hear! He'll call the police-"

"They'll break in and be silent, they're aware of Tatum's presence. Go to sleep every night wearing something warm, most are caught off guard with the cold and are killed trying to find a warm place." I rake my finger's through my hair trying to fathom the immense amount of debt and pain Tatum will be in if I don't win this.

I will win.

_____________________

I lay in bed with a grey jacket and black sweats.

It's been two weeks since the call. This is how I've laid every night since then, not sleeping till the sun pierced through my windows.

I've given up. My body is drained I need to sleep now.

Right as my eyes close a shadow crosses my window. I jump up.

I know its happening now.

The window seal lifts up and i stand up ready to go with them.

The person on the other side eyes meets mine and they smile.

"I see you've been warned about this huh?" They chuckle. "Speaking that you're already awake I'll let you come through the window willingly." I grunt. My mind races with thoughts about what could happen but I shake them away. My feet bring me to and through the window. I look at the room one more time before the man grabs my arm and yanks me to the front yard where an all black Volkswagen sat.

"Such a nice car for a kidnapping." I scoff. These people are so cared so little about life they'd kidnap them and put them in a Volkswagen.

"Yeah, we bring the nice ones out when we don't think they're gonna make it." The man grins and throws me in the back seat.

They think I'm not gonna make it.

"You think I'm gonna die. Why is that?" I ask looking through the window as he pulls off.

"Women themselves barely pass. Seven have passed out of forty-three. And the last one passed five years ago. You may have an advantage because your background but I truly believe you won't kill more than two of them." The man pulls off. A fence blocked the front of the car from the back.

"I'm much different from them." I scoff. Yes, I was used to sexism in the military's and I don't know why I'm surprised it's happening now. "And just because I am a woman does not mean I will be unable to handle them-"

"Yes it does. The set of people you are with are all men. All 200+ pounds, all come from the same gang, and are all trained. I'm sorry to say but your chances are slim to none." The car goes silent. I will prove him wrong and I know I will.

_____________________

We're here.

He pulls me out of the car and opens the trunk.

A variety of weapons lay infront of me.

"Pick one."

My eyes lay upon a Taurus 738. Six rounds. Light.

Perfect.

"There's five of them right?" I ask looking up at the man. He nods his head yes.

"Once I leave it starts, if, and I mean if, you make it past, I'll come back to you."

"How will you know if I won?"

"I have eyes everywhere." He smiles. I shake my head and grip the gun tighter. He gets a phone call and once it's over places his phone in his wallet.

"Good luck." I stare daggers at him as he moves his toung around his mouth.

"What's your name?" I ask. He stops and moves his eyebrows together.

"And that matters why?"

"Because when I make it out of here I want to know who the asshole who doubted me is." He laughs and rests next to the car.

"Marcello."

"See you in an hour or two Marcello."