The Blood Gang

Chapter 8

(2 days later...)

"Out!" José shoved me out of the truck and onto my knees in the dirt.

I groaned and shielded my eyes with a hand. "Fernando, if you were going to take me to a sunny desert, you shouldn't have kept me in a dark box for three days!"

Fernando chuckled with Iza at his side. "Like I said, amigo, I like your sense of humor. Stand! We must walk a little ways before we meet Ezekiel."

José forced me to my feet. I groaned and stumbled along. I probably looked horrible. I hadn't eaten or drank anything for three days. I hadn't taken a bath nor a change in clothes since that day with Iza. I didn't have medical treatment for my bruises. My knees and legs were weak. My vision was slightly blurred at the edges. I felt dead.

We had walked for about two hours when it was sunset. Fernando had José, Pablo and Manuel set up a small ring of tents.

Iza grabbed me and pushed me into a tent and down into a chair, then tied my wrists and ankles -- probably burned by now from being strangled. Then she glared and went to set up a campfire.

In the middle of a very flat desert.
At night.
Idiots.

Fernando came and stood in the tent. "Flores. We will rest for the night. We will wake and pack in the morning, then another couple hour's walk and we shall deliver you to Ezekiel. I do not think we shall see each other again after that."

I spat. "He's going to kill me, Fernando."

He shrugged. "He might."

"If we ever see each other again, I'm going to beat the ever-loving crap out of you!"

Fernando slapped me across the face. "Now, now, Flores. You know I do not tolerate such attitude. Good night." He left.


(LATER)

I grunted and pushed myself back. Just a few more steps and the knife was in reach. I jerked the chair back and adjusted my right hand, then leaned back. My finger grazed the handle, accidentally pushing it off the table and into my shoe. I grunted and slid the chair so that my foot was next to the table-leg, then rubbed the leg against my foot against the knife.

I looked down to see my progress. A little bit of the rope had been sawed off. I smirked and continued for another half hour, then looked again. Just a few more threads and my foot would be free.

I banged my leg against the table. The knife slid through the remainders of the rope and nearly sliced my toe off. I slid my foot out of my shoe and grabbed the knife with my foot.

I quickly glanced around to make sure no one else was awake, then bent my leg very, very painfully back and sawed off the rope around my right hand. My hand grabbed the knife and freed my other hand, then I bent down and freed my other foot.

I stood and sighed in relief, then allowed myself to examine the tent. No gun, but I did see a pillow. I grabbed it and went outside, immediately spying Pablo curled up next to the fire with a gun.

I smirked and went over, grabbing the gun and trying to wrench it from his grasp. He didn't budge, and neither did his gun.

"C'mon, Pablo," I whispered. "Give it up." No use. "C'mon, please." Nope. "Pablo, this is going towards a good cause." Some progress. "Donate your gun for charity." A little more. "Pabs, think of everything that will be accomplished with this gun." Done!

I loaded the gun and prepared to fire when I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. I turned around and pointed.

Iza. "Give me the gun, Flores."

"No."

"Give it to me."

"I don't want to."

"Flores, I am a very impatient woman." She lowered her voice. "You would not want to wake the whole camp up, now. Give it to me."

"What are you playing at?"

She glared and ripped the gun from my hands. "You won't need it."

"Yes, I do." I stretched out my hand.

"No!" She yanked it back.

"Iza, please."

Iza glared with defiance. "Flores, listen. If you run for two hours, you will come across a pay-phone. I left enough change in your shorts. Then run to the town. And by the way, that particular pay-phone has a bug that connects it to your son's iPod. He can find you easily." She cocked her head to the side. "Go."

I understood why she was doing this. I nodded. "Thanks, Iza."

"I will deal with Fernando. Go.

I nodded and ran from the camp.