| |
They were able to bind me and dragged me to one of their trucks. I expected them to tie me to the back of one and make me run the whole way. Instead, they threw me in the back of one truck with five guards, all of who had guns pointed at my head.
I didn't move. They were taking me to her and there was some relief in that. I needed to get close to her and hoped that I would be able to figure out a way to get us out of this mess.
I knew we were headed for the center of town and I braced myself. Under the best of circumstances, I avoided the place like the plague. Seeing your parents die, right in front of you, leaves a bad taste in your mouth.
When they pulled me out, I saw that there were three large stakes in the ground. I wondered how they did it, so quickly.
My thoughts were turned somewhere else when I saw Celia bound to one. At her feet were dry twigs and more kindling. One of the guards stood far too close with a small blow torch. I could smell the gasoline already and for one terrible second, I thought that Celia was dead.
But if she were dead, I would've felt it. I would've felt it like I felt our parent’s deaths. But so far, there had been anything except for one startling, bright instance of pain.
As they brought me closer, a woman bearing a striking resemblance to Savannah stepped forward, blocking my sight of Celia.
"So, you're the little brother. Not the one I wanted, but I don't mind taking out more than one of the Ortega family. It will be like icing on the cake."
"Bianca," I said.
She nodded. "Where is your brother?"
"What brother?" I asked.
I saw the blow coming from far away.
It didn't end there. The guards that were taking me to my sister dropped me and Bianca began to beat me. More than a few of them helped.
"I'm losing my patience with all of you. If you think that this is the only town I have on my schedule, you have another thing coming!" She screamed.
I looked up at her from where I was. I struggled to my knees but didn't make it any farther. "Okay. Okay. I'll tell you where he is."
Bianca let out a huge breath. "Finally. Someone with some reason."
From beyond behind Bianca, I heard Celia moan, "No."
"Sorry, Cee. But you look awful and I don't want them to give me what they gave you."
Bianca gave me a jaunty smile.
I looked up at her. "Artie is in hell. Why don't you go find him there?" I suggested.
The beating lasted much longer this time.