Chapter 3 - UNREST

"Yow mah chico... ven a ver esto. This shit is crazy man!" A guy in his 30s called out to the other person in the room who's much younger than him. "I can't believe they still do this kind of fucked up videos." He continued. The man has a clean shaved head, thick black brows, a pointed strong nose and a timid lips. His lazy eye plus the drooping eyelids did not match the image he is trying to portray. Tattoos of a skull and two, maybe significant men envelope his thick white neck. He is holding a smart phone and some kind of video is playing on replay. He sits right up on the black sofa and tilted the screen sideways. "What the hell? Who watches these lame ass fake editing?" Said the younger folk. "They even used kids!" Their eyes can't seem to avert the repetitive scene. "Man, uno de mis pies ya está en el infierno. I already know where my soul is going man. You know what I'm saying? We belong in a kill or be killed type of life, no matter how small our role is… but this… this isn't good. I will never use children to earn money. You with me? This is another level of evil chico."

 "Roberto!" An older, well dressed up man entered the room, followed by three others. He swirled the keys around his finger, showing he can play with it as much as he wants. The black suit and loose pants of the same color made his appearance even more unfriendly. He has a fresh wound on his left cheek and more on both of his arms. "Told you to stand guard outside, not fuck with Iglesias. What are you two doing huh? Want to lose a finger?" Both men were on their knees without uttering a word. Their heads remained bowed until the man who called them out sat in front of them. "Boss! How was your travel?" Roberto asked in a loud voice, perhaps to cancel out the nervousness he is feeling. His hands tremble and it keeps slipping from his sweat pants. "Well, glad you asked… it was terrible, puta! I almost fucking died!" The Boss did not only have an unpleasant face but also a terrifying voice. Roberto and Iglesias cowered again after hearing him shout. "Those pigs… I don't know how and when they started tracking my ass but they just fucking showed up and started raining us heavy bullets! I lost more than half of the manpower!" He exclaimed. "Glad to see you're alive boss! Those bastards can't match up with you!" Iglesias commented suddenly. "Of course you should be glad. Without me, there will be no food for your belly, smartass." That remark did not do them any good. Their boss is obviously a tough man to crack. "So you two… better explain to me what were you up to? Better be an acceptable reason or else… you know I already had a rough start of my day." He threatened. Roberto immediately handed him his mobile which was lying on the cold floor beside him. The boss was skeptical for a second but he still received the device handed to him. Swiped the screen and there, the clip of kids in a music play was displayed on the four corners of the phone. "Are you saying one of this is yours?" The boss asked after watching it for 10 secs. "I don't have a child boss. Please continue and see until the end." Roberto added. A minute passed and a few more snippet jumps, a warning sign brought attention to the old man and it says: 'What you will see is disturbing but this is 100% real. Demons are among us.' "What the hell did I just watch?"

The question was left unanswered. These grown men did not have the audacity to speak as it may serve as proof on something they wanted to deny. They did not want to dwell on anything their brains couldn't even process. They wanted to resist the urge to know more of that unsettling discovery but human as they are… curiosity got the best of them.

"When was this video uploaded and who put it up there?" The boss asked adamantly. "It was uploaded four days ago and the account is just new." Roberto answered as if they were investigators trying to solve a criminal case. "Do you believe in such things, boss?" Iglesias asked hesitantly. "Oh boy, I believe in anything but a human heart. Una vez vi un demonio, así que sé si esta mierda es real." Their boss affirmed his thoughts. "That's some crazy facts boss" Iglesias continued. "This old lady in the video… if I'm not mistaken, she was my teacher and a neighbor back in my old hometown before moving out here in Tijuana. I got to pay back what I owe her." His gang just looked at each other, confused.

All of a sudden, what broke the silence was something bound to happen but was never expected. A loud bang resounded the concrete building. Roberto, Iglesias, their boss and three other men reclined from their positions to lay flat on the thick cemented floor while trying to cover their bleeding ears. "The police are here. They tracked us down to the outskirts!" "What do you suggest we do, boss? "Roberto, you know this area more than anyone else. I want you to escape and make your way to Ouro Preto. Look for that elderly woman!" "But boss…" "Go now, bastard. This is your chance to live a new life" The exchange of words was brief. Despite the noisy sirens and the policia baring their fangs, the instruction felt more like a request rather than a demand.

 Roberto quickly crawled his way to the emergency exit while the ones left inside tried to deal what's forthcoming. They pulled out their guns and whatever they can find that can serve as a weapon. The individuals hid themselves behind counters, tables, walls and columns, getting ready for a flight or die moment. Right after, the metal door collapsed and the armed men showered the mafia with blazing fire which led to a bloody battle. Each groups tried to dominate, killing and showing no mercy. One by one, dead bodies started to décor the space, especially from the lawless organization. "Boss, you should escape too. I'll give you cover." Iglesias, though in pain still managed to provide support. "I will show those p…" and a bullet straight to his right eye halted Iglesias. Their boss witnessed it all until he was the only one left. "Enrique Garcia, don't you dare move! Or you'll see your head roll before you know it!" A rather scary and effective statement against the now powerless Mafia boss. They cuffed him, encircled his mouth with cloth and dragged him across to the exit.

"Wait… am I too late to the party? You already made a mess!" An unforeseen turn of events made everyone stop their movements and look back. "What the hell you looking at? First time seeing a dead rose from his lifeless vessel? You know the messiah? But I'm definitely not him though" The disoriented forces pointed their firearms to the now alive, Iglesias Periera. The hollow on his skull is clear as day but he is seemingly unbothered and stronger than ever. "Oh humans, so predictable. Violence is always the answer, right?" and before anyone could step an inch, a tail with a sharp blade on the tip emerged from his behind and shattered everyone who opposed his power. Whatever possessed the man, dodged the bullets, and may only have been playing around, enjoying the torture. "Enrique Garcia… I wanted you but perhaps this fatty will do."

"¡Tú demonio! No uses el cuerpo de mi hombre con tus pequeños trucos." Enrique, still bounded shrieked. "Don't worry now little lamb, you'll feed a hundred of hungry souls, but not just yet. Help me find the escaped one. I like his smell too." And a horrifying laugh paralyzed the horror-stricken Enrique.