Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2017 15:22:39 GMT -5
There was a long stretch of road that led from Mexico to the United States. She stayed as long as she could first, at the home where she grew up, then at the hotel her father owned. She took charge, she helped the people that were trapped there. They were doing good for a long, long time, until the Cartels moved in. They didn't care about anyone but themselves. Banditos that took what they wanted and killed if they couldn't get it. She heard them coming. She saw their caravans moving across Veracruz as the lookouts on the coast watched with binoculars. They were normally looking for for the dead that roamed aimlessly but today, the permeating silence of the ocean gave way to armored trucks and gunfire.
They went house to house, moving closer and closer as the day rounded out and as much as they tried to stay still in hopes the Cartel would go away, the less chance they had at survival. They had next to nothing except shelter and fish and they turned to her to make a decision. It was the only one she could make to keep everyone alive.
They left the day's catch on the dining room table, took what they could, loaded into their cars and drove in different directions, hoping they could slip past without detection. But that's when she looked in her rearview and saw a blockade put up behind her. Those that were following had been stopped, but she merely squeaked by. Her foot hit the pedal and she drove off as fast as she could. The gunshots rang out, not at her, but at the group left behind. The massacre made her fear for her life. It made her fear for her future and it made her feel guilty for being allowed to live.
Her entire day was spent going up the 180, heading north where it was getting cooler. She had little food, little water and a hunger that always nagged at her. Today was worse. She was looking forward to the catch from the morning and by the afternoon the need for it had grown exponentially. She had to stop and find shelter though. She knew there were barricades of the dead on some roads. Others were cartel. Others were people who feared for their lives and would just take her car and leave her for dead on the side of the road.
Off the highway, she rolled into Tampico, a town she had visited many times before. She knew her way around well enough to know she could find shelter somewhere, but she wasn't sure how long that would last. Everything had been turned upsidedown and the people she had spent so long getting to know were gone. She had never felt so alone in her life. She missed her father, mother and brother.
The SUV rolled up to a church, a place she always considered to be some place safe, even from the dead. Even if it wasn't true, she trusted they wouldn't enter. It seemed this road was empty without a soul wandering or even watching as she parked close to the front and went in. The door were unlocked and it was dark, forcing her guard up as she looked around with gun in hand. In her pack was a maglight she used cautiously as she walked from pew to pew, heading towards the alter where she desired, more than anything to pray.
Glass and debris crunched beneath her sneakers as she walked down the lonely aisle, taking in the dark, rich wood of the pews and faded and stained red carpet beneath her feet. She heard nothing. She saw nothing and for the first time today, she felt somewhat safe. It was fleeting she knew, but when she spotted a statue of the Virgin Mary, she inched up to it, sat down at the pillar and clasped her hands together in prayer.
They went house to house, moving closer and closer as the day rounded out and as much as they tried to stay still in hopes the Cartel would go away, the less chance they had at survival. They had next to nothing except shelter and fish and they turned to her to make a decision. It was the only one she could make to keep everyone alive.
They left the day's catch on the dining room table, took what they could, loaded into their cars and drove in different directions, hoping they could slip past without detection. But that's when she looked in her rearview and saw a blockade put up behind her. Those that were following had been stopped, but she merely squeaked by. Her foot hit the pedal and she drove off as fast as she could. The gunshots rang out, not at her, but at the group left behind. The massacre made her fear for her life. It made her fear for her future and it made her feel guilty for being allowed to live.
Her entire day was spent going up the 180, heading north where it was getting cooler. She had little food, little water and a hunger that always nagged at her. Today was worse. She was looking forward to the catch from the morning and by the afternoon the need for it had grown exponentially. She had to stop and find shelter though. She knew there were barricades of the dead on some roads. Others were cartel. Others were people who feared for their lives and would just take her car and leave her for dead on the side of the road.
Off the highway, she rolled into Tampico, a town she had visited many times before. She knew her way around well enough to know she could find shelter somewhere, but she wasn't sure how long that would last. Everything had been turned upsidedown and the people she had spent so long getting to know were gone. She had never felt so alone in her life. She missed her father, mother and brother.
The SUV rolled up to a church, a place she always considered to be some place safe, even from the dead. Even if it wasn't true, she trusted they wouldn't enter. It seemed this road was empty without a soul wandering or even watching as she parked close to the front and went in. The door were unlocked and it was dark, forcing her guard up as she looked around with gun in hand. In her pack was a maglight she used cautiously as she walked from pew to pew, heading towards the alter where she desired, more than anything to pray.
Glass and debris crunched beneath her sneakers as she walked down the lonely aisle, taking in the dark, rich wood of the pews and faded and stained red carpet beneath her feet. She heard nothing. She saw nothing and for the first time today, she felt somewhat safe. It was fleeting she knew, but when she spotted a statue of the Virgin Mary, she inched up to it, sat down at the pillar and clasped her hands together in prayer.