FALLEN | The Devil of Caracas

Chapter 21 | Blood

He pours the fresh coffee into two mugs, wondering what is taking his comrade so long. All he needed to do was cut her loose, instill some psychological fear, and lock the door behind him. He lets out a sigh. Frankly, he doesn't care for the woman's well being; she killed his friends and he looks forward to hurting her again. But his partner is likely pushing the boundaries too far; the man is notorious for his sadistic behavior. Perhaps it's time to rescue the woman from whatever he's doing to her. For now, the girl has been through enough.

Carrying both mugs out of the break room, he passes two additional guards. They nod, greeting him casually, as they stroll pass him. He then makes his way down the poorly lit hall, toward the prison cells. Turning to his right and then immediately to his left, the man steps in front of the metal door. He extends two fingers from his right hand and carefully pulls down on the door's handle. It groans as he pulls on it and then props it open with his foot. He steps into the room.

A blur comes from around the corner. Something cracks against his chest. He tries to gasp as it breaks his skin and cuts into his body. The two mugs drop to the ground. They shatter on the concrete. Hot coffee splatters across the floor. A terrifying image stands before him, soaked in blood.

The knife is drawn from his chest. Lexi shoves him against the wall and continues hacking. He grabs at her shirt, holding tightly. His mind and body disconnect as he freezes under the pain and fear, stupefied by the trauma. He slides down the wall, staring at his assailant. Lexi lets go, letting his body drop to the floor.

She searches him; neither of these men has a gun. Glancing down at the bloodied knife, she decides it will have to do. Lexi then limps over the corpse and pushes the door open.

"Hey!" calls out Miguel. "You going to let us out?"

She stops for a moment to examine the prisoners. Then she turns and continues through the door, ignoring his plea.

"Wait! Please! Don't leave us here!" Gonzalo cries. The others beg for her help, as she shuts the door behind her.

Lexi steps into the hallway, examining it cautiously. She looks to her left, which extends nearly fifty feet; and then her right, which travels just a few feet, before turning left at a sharp angle.

She turns to her right, unsure of her bearings, and then hears something - footsteps. They're approaching from down the hall, behind her. Limping, Lexi quickly rounds the corner and presses her back against the wall. She winces and bites her lip, suppressing a pained whimper. She hears someone rounding the other corner and walking down the long hall toward her. His boots slap against the concrete floor as he casually strolls forward. Lexi turns to her left and begins creeping down the corridor, away from the source of the footsteps.

She approaches an open door on her left. A voice echoes from within the room. She stops. A television switches on and she hears two men conversing about a soccer game, as they flip through the channels. The footsteps from around the corner increase in volume. They're getting closer. She's trapped.

Lexi doubles back toward the footsteps. She presses her back against the wall, near the corner. Raising the knife to her chest, she keeps it close to her body. The man's shadow proceeds his echoing feet. Lexi tightens her grip on the knife. She waits.

He turns the corner. Lexi swings the blade. It plunges below his rib cage, on the right side of his body. He lets out a loud, anguished howl. She miscalculated her swing. The man is massive; nearly six-feet-five-inches, with broad shoulders and a barreled chest.

He wraps his giant hand around her right forearm and smashes his available palm against her face, shoving her into the wall. Lexi swings out her left arm, attempting to deflect him. He pulls on her knife-wielding hand, withdrawing the blade from his body, while keeping his left hand on her face. The man lets out another agonizing sound as he does so. Blood quickly soaks his olive drab uniform.