The Time Stone (23 page)

“
ALL ATTENTION BRAINWASHED
MASSES.” Yelled a voice in a dark and crinkled tone, as smoke
screens erupted and soon faded revealing one young man dressed in a
black loose fitted suit, dark mask like a ninja wrapped around his
face but for his eyes, a red bandana around his head, and a red
lace around his waist. He had silver daggered objects on his gloves
as extensions of his fists and knuckles, and a large steel blade, a
legendary scimitar attached to his back with a satchel. He gritted
his teeth underneath his mask as he spoke philosophically but
vengeful. “We are the avengers of truth and justice in this world’s
saviors beyond space and time, protectors of the great treasure of
reality itself.” He jumped down and stood legs astride facing the
mass of spectators gathering as they stared up into his fiery eyes
behind a masked face and glistening suit of the shimmering black
cloth. The noise from the winds and roar of the people in sudden
shock was enough to distract them as the ninja stood and reached
into his satchel sack and he grabbed for an object inside of it, a
small slender clear bottle and it had a rag sticking out the end of
it. He reached for his lighter and lit it on fire, a blaze of
infernal heat and tossed it towards the church in a single throw.
The church caught a blaze upon impact and exploded within seconds.
He began to light another and two more after that and threw them.
The crowd ran in fear as the man stood and laughed with his hands
on his hips proud of his actions.

"Who are they?" Asked people from time
to time who have encountered them to which the only response
received was, and “they are the Culto." The local police were
baffled. They could not find out who was responsible for the
attack. And none were apprehended but this violent group caused
rampant destruction in the name of justice.

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“
They are the sinister of
the most sinister as revered throughout the local community and
hidden away in complete darkness until they strike in furtherance
of their agenda, a sense of higher nobility for themselves at the
expense of innocence lost and life squandered, they protected the
artifact that represented the greatest secret and power of the
ancient world, a might of a long-lost civilization, they are the
forbearers of grief and sin but their own honor and righteousness.
The fiends who burned down the church are believed by local
officials to be the heart and soul of this monstrous organization.
This is Priscilla Montenegro, channel Nueve news.” The Television
set clicked off and Mercedes looked at it with a puzzling
glare.

“
They’re a cult? I can’t
believe someone would burn down Saint Rosario’s.” She
added.

“
Senora Hernando, don’t
worry. They will be punished. I heard of the man who did it, a
shadow of a man, dark clothing with red bands.” Said
Mercedes.

“
He will not be found. The
police are just as corrupt and justice will not be known, at least
not in this world.” Ms. Hernando walked to her bedroom. “I am too
tired to think about it. I must pray and then rest.”

“
Good night, Senora
Delgado,” Said Mercedes.

“
Good night child.”
Mercedes stayed up thinking about how anyone can be so cold and
calculating. She saw Juan Carlos come in. “
Thank God I found someone decent,
”
she thought to herself, “
he is completely
the opposite of the monster that attacked the
church.
”

“
Hey honey,” she got up,
smiled, and gave him a bear hug from behind.

“
Oh hey, I got to go,” he
took out a glass from the cupboard and poured himself a glass of
orange juice.

“
Oh, where? I’m done with
my chores so I’m all yours tonight,” she added.

“
I got business meetings
with some colleagues.”

“
Oh OK” she nodded and
walked away and sat down at the kitchen table. “I’m sure I will
find something to do tonight.”

“
You can go to the movies
in town tonight. There is a new chick flick on there and you might
meet some good friends.”

“
I’m actually pretty
tired. I think I’ll just say a prayer for the victims of today’s
bombing then I will turn in.”

“
Yeah, some attack
huh?”

“
It is horrible,” she got
up and walked to her bedroom door and opened it. “The attackers
will burn in a special place in hell, for sure.” She went into her
bedroom and closed the door.

”
Um, yeah” Juan Carlos
uttered as he walked out of the house.

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That evening, Juan Carlos and his
cohorts donned with their black robes and red satchels and bandanas
gathered in the dry forest surrounding the outskirts of town. They
had obtained coolers of beer, tequila, and traditional fried
delicacies for a party. “Gentlemen, today we celebrate our victory
as we are becoming on step closer to succeeding in our mission and
to grow as our organization has one new member tonight personally
responsible for our achievement in the Saint Rosario encounter.
Juan Carlos Hernando, my cousin and good friend. Cheers to Juan
Carlos.” The leader of the group raised his beer can as did the
entire crew and toasted to their benefactor screaming
“yeah.”

“
Today we have some good
food and good drinks and good women for our entertainment pleasure.
My men come on and sit back and enjoy the dancing sensations and
more of The Women of the River.” A series of young attractive women
began to come out from behind a curtain set up in the backdrop of
the nearby forest and they were scantily dressed in bikinis and
veils belly dancing before them. The men hollered in amusement and
drank and ate heavily, trying to grab parts of the women’s anatomy.
Juan Carlos sat on the far end watching and holding his full can of
beer. He had a severely depressed frown on his face. His cousin
Julio, the leader approached and sat down next to him. “Hey
Juanito, what’s up? You not enjoying the show man? I did all of
this for you.”

“
Thanks but I guess I’m
not in the mood. I got a lot on my mind.” Juan Carlos
grimaced.

“
You look like it’s a
woman problem, man”, said Julio.

“
I think she is upset at
me.” Juan Carlos said.

“
Who are you talking
about?” Julio inquired with a grin. “Never mind, she ain’t worth
it! Come on let’s get out of uniform to handle this party,
Cousin.”

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Juan Carlos took off his culto robe
revealing his street clothes to the party as did the rest of the
crew, traditional flannel shirts and jeans like most of the field
laborers in town. Mercedes interrupts the party and comes running
over the distance and finds Juan Carlos.

“
What are you doing here?”
He screamed as he grabbed her by the arm and pushed her
aside.

“
I followed you.” Mercedes
spoke frantically.

“
Why?” Said Juan Carlos as
Julio looked at him with fear in his eyes that a nonmember was
present and began to run away.

“
Juan Carlos, I need you.
I don’t want to be without you. Please come back home with me. I’ll
stay here with you. I won’t go back.” Mercedes pleaded.

“
Go back where? Anyway,
this is not the right time or the place.” He scolded. “But I feel
the same way.” They stared into one another’s eyes and saw peace as
they recognized something that belonged to each other. “Wait for me
at home. I am almost done here.”

“
OK,” she smiled and
kissed him on the lips then ran off. Juan Carlos walked back to the
party and saw his cousin surrounded by other members who did not
look happy. “What’s up guys?”

“
That isn’t smart, Cousin.
You shouldn’t have brought her here.” Julio looked at him angrily
surrounded by his fellow warriors arming themselves.

“
She came on her own, how
was I to know I was followed?” Juan Carlos questioned.

“
That type of incompetence
is not a good thing for our organization. If some chick could
compromise us, what’s that to say for the police or worse?” Julio
barked.

“
Worse?” Juan Carlos
uttered inquisitively.

“
We got major enemies
against us, higher forces.” Julio screamed.

“
I don’t understand.” Juan
Carlos shook his head.

“
You’re not supposed to,”
Julio smirked with his arms crossed before him. “The bottom line
is, Cousin that someone who is not a member knows about this place.
We got to immediately relocate….”

“
She didn’t see anything.”
Juan Carlos interrupted.

“
It is not important,” he
yelled in Spanish. “She knows where it is. We’ve been compromised
and as I was saying, we got to immediately relocate” he spoke
angrily “just in case she tells others and most importantly, we got
to eliminate her permanently.”

“
No.” Juan Carlos
replied.

“
Why? You didn’t mind
blowing up the people who were at the church in the pueblo.” Julio
said.

“
Well…” Juan Carlos
started.

“
You aren’t in love with
this woman, are you?” Julio asked.

“
What if I am? Are you
questioning my loyalty?” Juan Carlos yelled.

“
Don’t raise your tone.
That’s a problem we need to fix right away. You can’t… I know you
are the one to eliminate her.” Julio said handing him a
knife.

“
What?” Juan Carlos
questioned.

“
Yes, you eliminate her.
It is the only way to test your true loyalty to the club.” Julio
said.

“
I…” Juan Carlos started
biting his lip piercing it and causing it to bleed as he fought
back the tears.

“
If you don’t eliminate
her by tomorrow at this time, we eliminate you.” Julio looked at
him sincerely and Juan Carlos gulped in astonished disbelief. “And
your mother too.”

“
I’ll do it….” Juan Carlos
reluctantly replied.

CHAPTER 55

In a darkened empty warehouse, far
from the town outskirts, a group of warriors dressed in the ninja
garb worn by the church attacker gathered before a single small
television monitor that suddenly came to life with images before
them and snow fizzing on the old quality set. Within seconds, a
visage of a shadowy silhouette of a man appeared his face unknown
and features not discernible.

“
We are fast approaching
the last time.”

“
My lordship, we have been
compromised. We require intervention,” said the leader.

“
There will be events
naturally occurring that will tend to shift the tides of change. Be
patient. It is upon us. But before the last time, we must have the
object and its progenitor in full place.” The shadow face observed.
“Remember your mission, the meaning of our findings, and your
ancient philosophy. Your ancestors were culto warriors and
harbingers of the way of the warrior, protectors of the great
treasure, seekers of truth, abdicators of light and darkness. Your
dark master awaits and your destiny remains constant, to serve and
uphold the truths of the past to protect all our
futures.”

“
Understood, we will
proceed as planned. We are taking steps to retrieve the device.”
The leader responded holding up a picture of a small box and the
screen shut off. “Let’s get to work guys.”

CHAPTER 56

That night Juan Carlos prepared a
romantic meal out on the veranda behind his mother’s house and set
up stretched out Christmas lights and candles around the small
table set for two, a single rose lay in the middle. Mercedes comes
out of the house.

“
Hey handsome, you wanted
to see me?” She asked approaching and pecking him on the
cheek.

“
Yes, come here” he
beckoned and she approached.

Mercedes realized the setup of a
romantic dinner by candlelight. “I never thought I would have a
boyfriend. I looked for so long but...” she stopped herself,
“what’s all this for?” She asked.

“
For us” he smiled as he
handed her the rose and held out the seat for her.

“
Oh my, Juan Carlos, this
is too much… but it’s very sweet” she sat down.

He sat across from her and started to
pour some wine into their glasses. “I thought it would be a good
idea to go up to the hilltop after dinner to look at the stars. You
have been working so hard lately and I wanted to express my
gratitude.” Juan Carlos said.

“
Oh it was nothing; I owe
you guys for taking me in. I was pretty much homeless here.”
Mercedes commented.

“
I know times are tough.
It will get better… you have as long as you need in our humble
abode.” Juan Carlos replied.

“
Thanks, that’s sweet.”
She took a sip of the wine. “I got something to tell you. I am
American. I was born in California and somehow got wrongfully
deported and I don’t have any way to get back.”