RUN! Run faster! Far away from those bloodsuckers!
Run!
Aurora's subconscious screamed at her as she ran, waving off the gigantic leaves and tree branches that threatened to obstruct her path and falter her steps.
Tears mixed with sweat gathered on her face, attaching strands of her hair to it.
She could hear her heart racing out of fear of whatever will happen to her if she is caught.
Minutes ago, she had watched her parent die gruesomely by their machete. The perpetrators, she didn't know and she doubted her parent did either. The only thing she identified one of the four men with is the rare flower tattoo at his side.
Maybe her parents death was her fault, if she hadn't wandered past the woods like they instructed, the men wouldn't have gotten into their house. They wouldn't have found their domain.
Her fantasy of the outside world led her to wander past her parents obstruction, thus blowing their cover to the enemy.
She couldn't recall how many times she had defied her parents warning not to go out without any of their watch or guidance.
Once she had discovered where they kept the keys that bound the large doors to her restriction, sneaking out in her parents absence slowly became a regular thing for her.
She didn't understand why they locked her up in there, allowing her to the outside world only on strict guidance and direction. Her boundary is the woods. Even in her rare movement outside the confinement of the enormous walls in the house; Aurora isn't allowed to pass the woods or journey deep in it.
Countless times she had asked them why and their response had been the same, though on some occasion, unnecessarily stretched; -For our safety, you must do only what we tell you-.. She had lived with the answer as she grew older.
And as she did, it started to bore her. She got irritated by it and her urge to view the outside world intensified.
To her, it was no different from being locked up like a prisoner and it only greatly intensified her urge to go out.
So when she discovered the keys, hidden adeptly in her father's wardrobe and in the pocket of an old coat, she developed a habit of sneaking out but still maintaining the rules of not crossing her boundaries.
Soon, she got bored of it. She wanted to explore, to view more
Sneaking out seemed more fun, she freely explored wherever she wanted and without anyone directing or telling her what to do.
That night, she decided to journey out of the woods, to see what was out there that her parent didn't want her to know.
To go beyond her supposed boundaries.
She wanted to outstretch her exploration.
And that exploration had caused the death of her parent. She had watched from the door as they were slaughter. Her body refusing to cry out as her lips quivered out of fear, silent whimpering emanating from them.
Carelessly, she stirred a noise, bringing the killers attention towards her and before they could even get to see face, she had taken off, running towards the end of the woods.
It was dark, impeccably dark when she arrived outside the wood, severe aches sprang up from different parts of her body as she scanned around, her heart echoing loudly in the heart of the street; she searched for refuge, for protection and assistance but the bare street provided none. The street light only illuminated the tarred road.
Hearing the heavy footsteps behind her, she took off again, defeating the aches that threatened to stop her. Her life flashing right before her eyes, was enough to make her pace up to her fullest.
She saw a van , metres away from where she stood and as she got closer, she discovered that some people were filling big bags and pushing it into the van; bags that contained something she couldn't see nor decipher as they were tied up before being thrown into the van.
Aurora looked back, her worst fear jamming her blurry vision, she hurried towards the van. Seeing no one close to the door, she tried it, the passenger door didn't budge and she groaned, hurrying to the driver's side.
She tried the door and it gave way immediately. Swiftly, she opened it well enough to fit her body and slide into the driver's seat.
Smartly, she slid to the back of the van and stayed behind the rows of tied bags in the dark van. Breathing out of relief, she let her body fall tiredly yet quietly onto the cold floor of the van.
She heard the men interact in Spanish language, she could barely make out what they were saying since she isn't very familiar with the language, she could only tell when it is being used.
Soon, she heard the back doors of the van close and felt the van slight shake as the men got into it, the bangs reaching her ears as they shut the doors.
The van was started and as it began to move, it disturbed the bags in the back as one of it rolled off and fell on her;
Sending her to an immediate unconsciousness.
**
Rodriguez sat up, pushing the girl's naked body from his, he picked up the telephone from its cradle.
"We have arrived, boss!" He heard Michael's voice from the other end.
"Good. Did you get all complete package?" He asked.
"Gotten as requested, sir," he answered proudly. Rodriguez smiled.
"Good. I'll check it out tomorrow. Tell the boys they can retire for the night" he instructed and hung up. He had barely returned the telephone when it began ringing again and he answered.
"We've got a problem, boss!"
"What is it, Charles?" Rodriguez asked, alarmed.
"We caught two spies at the winery, they had explosives with them"
"What?" Rodriguez bellowed, sitting up more ferociously. The action stirred the lady beside him awake.
"Yes sir. We have them at the torture room and the men are checking around to see if there's more." Charles said.
"I'll join you guys right away, inform Gerald about this." Rodriguez answered, dropped the telephone and began slipping out of bed.
"Rodriguez.." she called flirtatiously, signaling for him to return to bed.
"I have something I need to urgently handle," he informed her as he slipped a shirt on, grabbing his trouser in one swift move from the floor and forcing it through his legs.
She knew better than to say another word. From his action, she could tell it was truly a state of urgency..
"Get back to work. I mustn't meet you here when I return," he warned her and walked out of the room, grabbing his cowboy hat from the hamper on his way.
Running down the Central passage towards the flight of stairs, he found Gerald at the mouth of the stairs, half naked from his waist upward.
"Charles caught some spies at the winery," he informed him, his steps still solid as he made for the door..
"Some?" Gerald's brows furrowed. "How many?" He asked, following him.
"Two. For now," Rodriguez answered "they had explosives" he revealed and Gerald grimaced.
"They're at the torture room" he added and walked out.
"I'll be right there!" Gerald screamed after him, dashing into his bedchamber to get dressed.
Rodriguez brought out his gun, cocking it as he made his way to the torture room.
Getting there he found the spies tightly tied up to different chairs. Their faces were battered with punches from the men and they looked like they were in so much pain, their head hung low.
"Did you get any information?" Rodriguez asked.
"They're not talking, boss" Charles told him.
Rodriguez smirked and walked closer to them.
"Who sent you?" He asked them in a dangerous tone.
He got no response.
"I don't like repeating my self and I like being looked at when I speak but I ask again; who sent you?!" He yelled the questions but still got no response.
Rodriguez bit his lower lip in anger.
"Bring me the toolbox!" he ordered and immediately, it was brought to him.
He opened it and took out a small knife, blunt and sharp-edged. He examined the bluntness and in two swift dangerous moves, sliced it deeply into their thighs..
Cries of pain filled the air and he repeated the process again, letting their cries ring out more.
Taking an unfinished cup alcohol from one of his crew member, he emptied the content on the cuts and they cries intensified, accompanied with pain-filled tremblings..
He dropped the bloody knife and brought out a pair of Pliers from the box, walking closer to one of the men, he raised his head up and pushed his trembling face backward. Widening the pliers handle, he forced the spy's mouth open and was about to pull out some of his teeth when he gave in.
"I-I will talk" he said, weakly. His eyes begging to be spared. "P-p-p..lease spare me!" He breathed out.
"Too late" Rodriguez informed him, dipping the pliers into his mouth.
"Santiago!" The spy quickly spoke before Rodriguez could carry out his act, he paused letting the spy reveal "Santiago Martini sent us!"