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EMPTY EYE SOCKETS CHAPTER 18
The trip had taken only a day, but it had felt like a whole year to Meche. Domino hadn't said much and the woman had had much time to think. She had come to the conclusion that the game had to end and preferably soon too.
Now that she had stopped to think about it she couldn't understand how she could have let the situation go on for that long. She had just followed Domino around, what good had that been? She had failed in whatever she had tried.
And maybe she had never even had a chance.
Meche sighed and looked around herself. They had just arrived in Nuevo Marrow and Domino had hid his car in the Petrified Forest. Meche suspected the man wanted to make sure that he'd find it soon if he had to escape from the city.
"What are we going to do now?" she asked him, and he turned around.
"You still want to come? What is wrong with you?" he asked. Meche clenched her fists and felt something black grow inside her.
"You just don't get it. If it had been anyone else than me you would have understood by now. Never mind. I can't take it anymore," she said and her voice reflected both despair and disappointment. "I've had enough," she continued and before Domino even realised what she had said she had marched away.
There weren't many people on the street so it wouldn't have been difficult to follow Meche, but Domino didn't do it. He had no time and he didn't want anything to ruin his plans now. Meche would have just been on his way.
He stared after the woman a while, shrugged and continued in his own direction.
---
Other souls arrived in Nuevo Marrow about the same time. They too had come from Rubacava and though their intention seemed very desperate they were not going to back off. They were men lead by despair, if they failed they might lose their souls, but if they did nothing Hector's empire would eat Rubacava, and then they would not be able to pay their depths and leave the Land of the Dead.
They came hiding and didn't look suspicious at all. A professional eye socket might have noticed something odd in them though. With care someone could have seen eye sockets that glanced around, bony fingers that nothing to do and stiff positions.
But no one in Nuevo Marrow saw anything and no one had an idea what was going to happen.
Except for Salvador Limones and his men, but because of their position they didn't count.
The men relaxed a bit when the shadow of the zeppelin was cast on the city. Those citizens who paid any attention realised that it belonged to Maximino, but even they didn't suspect anything. "He has come to meet Hector," they said to each other.
That wasn't what they said when the shooting started, though.
Everything looked like very amateurish and ridiculous, but if one stopped to think and follow the events one would realise that it worked. Maximino's men didn't just run around the city shooting souls, they knew how to choose their targets. This caused panic and the whole city was in chaos preventing Hector's men from defending it properly.
It took only a couple of minutes before the streets were filled with escaping souls; most of them had left their beloved casinos for the first time in a while. It was dim outside and in the glow of the neon lights it was difficult to say who was a friend and who was an enemy, but some didn't even care about that.
Maximino's zeppelin stopped above a high skyscraper and the man got down with Lola and some of his most loyal men.
"It has begun," Maximino said. They were too high to see what was actually going on, but it was impossible to not to notice the panic below them.
"People are afraid," Lola stated worried. She really hoped that no one innocent had got hurt.
"They should be. Most of us don't mind who they shoot as long as they can sprout souls who live in this city," the taller of Maximino's men said and Lola turned to look at him in shock.
"You shoot innocents too?" she asked pointing her words at Maximino who glared daggers at the man who had talked.
"Manuela, don't mind you with such thoughts. War is war and we have to leave it to them. Come, let me take you somewhere safe while -- " he tried to say, but Lola didn't want to listen.
"Answer me! Do you shoot those who don't work for Hector?" she asked and her voice got higher towards the end of the sentence.
Maximino sighed and shook his head.
"I said it's war. It's impossible to win without sacrifices," he said. He cursed himself and his men inside his mind, Manuela should have never found out. Women were so sensitive when they felt like it.
Now it was Lola's turn to shake her head.
"I thought that you were different," she said quietly.
"What?" Maximino asked in confusion.
"I thought that you and Hector were different, but I must have been wrong. You are a murderer, just like him! How could I have been so wrong?" Lola asked and her voice became louder and louder. "Oh Toto..."
"Manuela, please. I understand that you are shocked, but everything will be better. Trust me," Maximino said gently and offered her his hand. For a moment Lola felt like taking it and forgetting, but then she glanced at the street again. Most of the people had fled, but several souls were still there.
"No," she said and it felt like saying that one word took all of her strength. "I won't." After saying that she turned and took the stairs down in order to find a way down and join the ones she belonged with.
Was that a stupid thing to do? she asked herself. She knew that wars were never won without sacrifices, but somehow it felt so twisted to shoot innocent in a battle that was fought for them. Salvador would have never done it.
But where had she got the idea that Maximino was doing this for someone else than himself? The man had never said it; Lola had just assumed and hoped. She still loved the man, she couldn't help it, but now she understood how her feelings had blinded her and prevented her from doing what was right.
"I am so stupid," she muttered to herself while running down the stairs and trying different corridors. She had no idea what building she was in, but everything was very fine and clean. It looked like an office building, but there was no one anywhere. She guessed that the word of what was going on had reached the workers.
Lola managed to get on the street without anyone stopping her and she sighed in relief. Now she only had to find someone she could trust.
---
After the first ten minutes Meche had realised that she had made a mistake. She felt regret, she hadn't even tried to talk to Domino. She had been childish to believe that a man like Domino would understand anything without blowing it on his face first.
How could Domino have got it when she hadn't said it? She doubted even Manny would have got the message.
Meche turned around and looked back. Domino was gone and she felt a pang of disappointment inside her. She had hoped that the man would come after her...
Nuevo Marrow was a strange city to her; she had never visited it before. Of course she had been a while in the old El Marrow, but the city had changed much since Hector's arrival.
Where should she go now? She knew no one and nothing in the city.
She suddenly remembered that Manny was probably somewhere around. That had to be the reason why Domino had travelled to Nuevo Marrow. Meche knew that she would have to find Manny and warn him of Domino, but it felt hopeless. She had no idea where Manny could be.
---
"Should we go after her?" one of Maximino's men asked after Lola had rushed away. The crime lord shook his head.
"No, we have important things to do. Look for her when this is over," he decided. It was actually good that Manuela had left. Maximino didn't want to endanger her and what could have been more dangerous than what he was up to at the moment?
The men nodded.
"Understood, sir."
Maximino looked around on the roof. The building they were in was Hector's biggest office and he was sure that he would find his nemesis there. He must have heard of the attack already and it was possible that Hector had run off. Maximino didn't believe in it though, he knew Hector too well.
The man was waiting for him somewhere with a gun. In his office probably, Hector always wanted to take care of things fast and with style.
Maximino made sure that his own gun was loaded with sproutella, and gestured his men to follow.
"Come, we have to take care of this," he said. Maximino's mind told him that he would do wise if he left his men do the dirty job while he himself was somewhere safe. He didn't want to do that though because of many reasons.
Firstly, if he wanted his men to trust him in the future he would have to prove himself to them. They had backed him in Rubacava because of fear and hatred towards Hector. When Hector was gone anyone could take his place and Maximino didn't want to be betrayed by his own men at a moment like that.
And secondly, he would have been mad if he hadn’t wanted to shoot Hector himself. It would be an enjoyment to take care of the man who was to blame for Rubacava's current state, and it would give him the reputation of a frightening man. He needed it, and he would get it.
They took the same stairs than Lola had a moment ago. Unlike the woman, they knew where they were going because Maximino had visited Hector many times in the very same building. He was familiar with every corner and room and decided that it was a good place to get rid of Hector.
After all, what could be a better place than the very heart of the man's empire?
When they arrived in the floor where Hector's office was they could all sense the increasing nervousness. Some of them probably thought that it would be a good idea to run when it was still possible, but no one said it aloud.
They had practised this beforehand; Maximino had chosen these men with care and made sure that everyone knew what to do. He watched proudly as the men took positions in the corridor so that no one would get in or out of Hector's office without their permission.
Then Maximino walked to the heavy double doors forcing the nasty feeling go down, and knocked at the door.
For a while nothing happened and he already thought that the office was empty and Hector gone, but then the crime lord's soft voice could be heard.
"Step in, Maximino."
So he knows I am here. So like him to be aware of everything, Maximino thought and pondered his options. He would have to go inside, he had known that the whole time, but now that the situation was at hand it felt surprisingly difficult.
But no, he would never let Hector beat him this easily. The man could shoot him at the moment he stepped in, but somehow Maximino doubted that. It just wasn't like Hector to take care of things like that. No, he wanted to talk and mock his enemy at first, only then he would shoot.
Maximino wrapped his bony fingers around the door knob and opened the door slowly.
A thick carpet covered the floor, Hector's desk dominated the room and there were paintings on the walls. There was other furniture too, like a wooden book shelf.
Hector was sitting behind his desk and looked very relaxed and not worried. It was difficult to remember that he was fully aware of what was going on in his city. Maximino also noticed the gun that rested on the desk, looking like it had been just thrown there with no real purpose.
He also saw that Hector wasn't alone. Nick Virago stood next to him looking like he had difficulties with remaining there. Maximino wanted to snort; Nick always became so impatient when things got dangerous.
"So you decided to pay me a visit," Hector stated. His voice was low and soft like a silk glove ready to grab the murder weapon.
Maximino nodded.
"I would never forget an old friend," he replied. They both knew the rules of the game and were ready for everything.
"You were always such a loyal friend and partner," Hector commented and said the two words like they were venom in his mouth. "You come here to betray me after I have done only good to you."
"Good? The way you destroy my business is an odd proof of that."
"Ah, so that is what this is about. Oh Maximino, you should know that I have nothing to do with that. Rubacava would have been destroyed sooner or later, I just... gave it the first push," Hector explained.
"Say whatever you want, your word games won't make me change my mind," Maximino stated. He was slightly confused because Hector hadn't made an effort to grab his gun. Didn't the man feel threatened?
"I wouldn't recommend you to do that. I never let traitors go," Hector chuckled.
"In that case you are going to have to leave this room alone. Right, Nick?" Maximino said and for the first time during the conversation someone paid any attention to Nick Virago.
The lawyer flinched and looked from Hector to Maximino.
"I don't understand what you mean," he se said. The situation wasn't as clear as he wanted it to be, either of the men could win and he didn't want to be labelled a traitor in the case Hector triumphed.
"Come on Nick, we are all honest men here," Maximino said. He knew quite well how uncomfortable Nick was feeling, but he wanted to shock Hector as much as possible. And there were only a few better ways of doing that than revealing a traitor.
Hector turned to look at the very nervous Nick.
"I see. So it was you," he said quietly. "I will take care of you later."
---
"It has begun," Salvador said using the same words than Maximino a moment before. He, Manny, Carla, Eva and Glottis stood on the street watching the chaos. Souls were running around looking for a safe place while Maximino and Hector's men fought shooting each other and innocent.
The rebel leader shook his head.
"It wasn't supposed to be like this," he said.
"It's not your fault," Manny pointed out. "The LSA forces have done nothing yet."
"Tue, but that will change soon. This is our chance to take care of those who have caused this," Salvador said.
"So we will go after Hector and Maximino?" Carla guessed. She thought all this was exciting and different in its own way. She still couldn't believe that she had that easily accepted all that had happened.
"I will. I do not want to endanger my group," Salvador said.
"Don't be stupid. I will come as well," Eva said immediately.
"Too dangerous. I will take care of Hector by myself, it is my responsibility."
"I survived Copal."
"But Hector is not Copal."
Manny and Carla glanced at each other as if they knew something that no one else did.
"Sorry to say this Sal, but you are wrong. We are all going after Hector; we all have something against him. I lost my job because of him, remember?" Manny said.
"Ah, but if he hadn't done that you would have never met your beautiful friend," Salvador pointed out. Manny merely shrugged.
"Then I guess it's the time to thank him. And besides, I can avenge for Glottis. His job was taken as well."
The huge orange demon rubbed the back of his head.
"I'm not sure I want you to be in danger because of me," he said.
"Don't worry, I would do this anyway. This could be what I have been aiming for this whole time," Manny assured.
Salvador was silent for a while before nodding to himself.
"So it is that I can not stop you. I have to admit I am grateful for your support," he said. "Come, Hector's office is in this direction."
---
"You shouldn't have messed with me, buddy," Domino stated and turned his back on the man he had just sprouted with the man's own gun. It hadn't been difficult, the man had been really stupid and knocking him out cold and taking his gun hadn't taken much effort.
Domino checked the gun with routine and nodded. It was loaded and fine; there would be enough sproutella for a while too.
Now the only thing he needed was his victim.
---
Nick didn't like the situation at all. It was too fragile and could break at any moment. On top of that he was in a wrong place and if Maximino didn't know how to aim...
Hector chuckled sounding amused.
"Oh Maximino, oh Nick. Have I surrounded myself with mere traitors?" he asked and shook his head. "Maybe so, but that mistake can be corrected easily," he continued and all amusement was now gone from his voice.
Everyone knew that talking was now over and it was the time to take action.
Maximino raised his gun and pulled the trigger, but Hector wasn't where he had been just a moment ago and the dart sunk in his chair. Maximino stared in awe, how could a man of Hector's size move that fast? Well, it didn't matter. When Hector had ran he had had to leave his gun on the desk so he wasn't dangerous anymore.
"Well, well. So it is this way, then." he said to the crime lord who neither said nor did anything.
Now it was Maximino's turn to chuckle.
"I wouldn't have thought that it would be this easy," he said.
Nick watched the scene in silence and prayed that Maximino would fire soon. Avoiding it just made things more difficult and could ruin them. Now wasn't the time to mock Hector no matter how badly prepared the man had been.
"Shoot him, Maximino," the lawyer said sharply.
Maximino nodded looking reluctant. Hector had embarrassed him so much that he didn't want to let the man get away too easily.
"Goodbye Hector," he said and prepared to pull the trigger. At the last moment he hesitated, was this really real?
That short moment was all Hector needed. He slipped his hand inside his suit and drew out another gun, and before anyone knew it he had fired two shots at Maximino.
"Goodbye," he said in amusement when the other man fell screaming in shock and pain.
"No!" Maximino managed to shout before the pain became so unbearable that he wasn't able to talk anymore.
Nick stared in shock as flowers ate Maximino's body. The man kept screaming and writhing on the floor, and soon the only thing that was left was a bush of flowers and leaves. One could barely see the remnants of clothes under the plants.
How could this have happened? How could Maximino have lost? And what would happen now?
Nick lifted his eye sockets from Maximino's body and looked at Hector in fright. He had never been that afraid and would probably never be.
"Hector, I..." he started, but didn't continue. What could he say? As ironic as it sounded, talking wouldn't help him at all.
"You," Hector said quietly. He would have said more, but suddenly they both heard shots, shouts and steps outside the office. "Damn!" Hector hissed and was on the move. Nick watched as the man rushed to the book shelf, opened it like a door and stepped in the elevator that he had just revealed.
The lawyer stood there for a while and watched as Hector escaped through his secret route. He realised that the man thought the rebels had come. Nick would have to do that too, one or even two men wouldn't stand against freedom fighters. Especially if they possessed the guns they had stolen.
Hector's escape had also seemed very sudden. A man who had just sprouted a soul was not very likely to run off when hearing voices.
Nick shook his head, now was not the time. He would have to decide what to do instead of just standing there and looking stupid. He glanced around; there were only two ways of getting away. Either he would follow Hector or choose the door. The latter option was not good; if the rebels really were there he wouldn't have a chance.
The lawyer made his decision and rushed towards the elevator. He saw that it had taken Hector up to the roof so he called it down, stepped in and headed for the lower floors. He knew that he would have to leave Nuevo Marrow and fast, there was nothing for him in the city now.
But he couldn't leave just like that; he would have to get money first. After that it would be easy to leave the bizarre city that was so full of battles and souls that no one would see him go.
He tapped at the elevator floor with his foot in impatience while waiting for the elevator to get down. Then there was a relieving "ding!" and he almost ran out.
It was the third floor where Hector had some of his vaults. The man had many around the city and only he knew how to get in the vaults that held his most precious treasures. Fortunately Nick knew how to get in the one that was filled with money, so he didn't worry too much.
"If I ever make this I could become an honest lawyer..." he muttered trying to keep himself calm. He got the door open -- he had been almost afraid of not remembering the code -- and stepped inside. The walls were covered by shelves that were filled with suitcases full of money. Nick opened one, looked inside it and closed it again.
"This should be enough," he said. Then he felt someone press a gun on his back.
---
"Look!"
The first thing Manny, Salvador and others noticed when entering Hector's office was a sprouted soul on the floor. The sprouting itself didn't shock them; they had fought with Maximino's men only a moment ago to get in. They were more interested in who had been sprouted.
"Is it mister LeMans?" Glottis asked eyeing the soul in uncertainty. He didn't like hurting souls -- even corrupted ones -- if they didn't directly threaten those close to him.
"No," Salvador said shaking his head. "It is someone else."
They moved closer on guard, the sprouter could still be in the room. At the first glance the office seemed empty though; there was no sign of anyone.
Manny bent down next to the soul and tried to recognise him without touching the leaves. He could sprout a soul -- it had been proved in the corridor -- but he couldn't force himself to touch the flowers. Carla didn't have that problem and she calmly moved leaves away from the soul's face.
"Maximino!" she and Manny exclaimed aloud.
"Maximino?" Salvador asked and bent down too. "So Hector won the battle of these two," he said.
"Bad for us, it might have been possible to get along with Maximino," Eva stated.
"True, but this will not change our plans. Now we only have one crime lord less to think about."
They let Maximino's corpse stay there, it would be taken care of when more important things were done. Now they had to find Hector and destroy him before it was too late.
---
Nick froze and dropped the suitcase. Blast it; he had been caught after all! He cursed himself for letting the desire for money blind him again and he also hoped that he would have more common sense in his next life -- if there was one.
He expected to feel a poisonous sproutella dart hit him, but something else happened.
"You know, I never thought you would be brave enough to do this," a soft female voice said.
It was Olivia.
"What are you doing here?" Nick asked and turned around. He didn't think the woman would shoot him, not now, not in this situation. And he was right; Olivia didn't fire the gun, but continued pointing it at him.
She snorted sounding amused.
"To be honest I always thought you were a ridiculous coward and a pathetic fool who would be no good," she said.
"Thank you very much," Nick said dryly.
"But now..." Olivia continued, "But now I have changed my mind," She glanced at the suitcase and shrugged. "Betraying Hector takes courage and wits, I didn't think you would do it. You didn't even want to look at his girl."
Nick didn't know what to say, he had no idea where this conversation would lead. It annoyed him; he usually knew what to say back.
"I see," he had to say.
Olivia chuckled.
"But I was wrong. Maybe you are something after all." She tapped at the suitcase with the tip of her toes. "Rich, and definitely more interesting than Hector. And talking about him, the situation looks pretty nasty."
"What are you trying to say?"
"Oh darling, I don't try anything. But now I recommend you to take our money from the floor so that we can leave this city."
Nick didn't think he would ever learn to understand women. Especially Olivia Ofrenda.
---
There were rebels everywhere!
Hector hadn't thought that the situation could be that bad, not at all. He had been careful because of Maximino's men, but he had never believed Salvador Limones had the ability to create a powerful army as well.
There weren't many rebels, but they knew what they were doing and were much more dangerous than the amateurs who had come from Rubacava. There amount of Maximino's men was great, but most of them had been taken care of already -- usually by Hector's men.
His own forces had suffered losses too and at least two of his casinos had been taken over. The situation had got out of control and Hector had a nasty feeling that told him that this could prove to be very difficult indeed.
And that was why he had to flee.
If he stayed in Nuevo Marrow he could end up sprouted. The situation was critical at the moment, but would calm down soon. And he could wait for that in a safe place like Rubacava, for an example.
After sprouting Maximino and hearing the sounds in the corridor he had known that he would have to leave. The rebels were coming for him, but he was not about to be there. He would escape and come back to take what belonged to him and take care of those who had betrayed him.
Hector looked around on the roof and only now realised his problem and the irony in it. He was alone and he had Maximino's zeppelin, but he didn't know how to make it move. He needed someone who could do it.
He thought about going back to find Olivia and taking her with him. Then he pushed the thought back, even though he loved her he loved himself and his position more. And if the woman survived this she would be in Nuevo Marrow waiting for him.
But first he would have to find a way to escape with the zeppelin.
Hector felt uncomfortably helpless. He was used to that he was on top of the situation and told others what to do. He wasn't supposed to be helpless; everyone else was that in front of him and waited for instructions in fear.
"Need help?" a very familiar voice asked and Hector turned around in surprise. He could have recognised that voice anywhere. It belonged to the man who had helped him to build this illegal empire.
It was Domino's voice.
Hector chuckled hiding his surprise well. He had always been a master of hiding his true emotions.
"How did you get here? Puerto Zapato is very far away," he said.
"You must mean how I got rid of your assassin? That wasn't too difficult," Domino replied.
Hector believed Domino. Pedro was a useful man in many ways, but he had never been careful enough to take care of anyone who was even slightly skilled.
And Domino had skills, he had to admit that. He wouldn't have chosen him if he didn't. Pity that everything had gone wrong. Hector was sure that Domino's so called betrayal wasn't as black and white as Pedro had reported, but he hadn't cared. He had been about to get rid of Domino anyway, he was too strong and that made him dangerous.
"Whatever, my friend. Now you are here. I am here as well. And Nuevo Marrow is in chaos," Hector said.
"So?" Domino asked.
"So things could be better. But I will not stay here and wait for my doom. When everything is over here I will come back and take my place again."
Domino glanced at the zeppelin.
"Are you sure you can control that, mister LeMans?"
"That is when you appear in the picture."
Domino realised that the two of them were in the same situation than years before. With the difference that he wasn't as helpless and vulnerable as back then, years of serving Hector had taught him well and killed the last part of his conscience. But everything else was the same: Hector was offering him the chance to fight side by side with him and triumph.
It was a very appealing offer. Even now when he knew that Hector had sent a man after him Domino found himself considering the offer. He couldn't help it; he was greed by nature and wanted to be on the winning side.
"Come with me, Domino. If you help me now I am ready to forget whatever you did in past," Hector promised. Maybe he would do it too, one never knew. Domino was a very useful ally no matter how dangerous he was.
If Domino left with Hector everything would be better than at the moment, but only for a while. When he next time did something that Hector didn't like he would be in this same situation again. And then he might have to face someone more dangerous than Pedro.
"We are in a hurry; the rebels can be here at any moment," Hector pointed out.
"No."
"What?"
Domino shook his head and the ever lasting grin on his face looked smugger to Hector than ever.
"I don't want to suffer the same fate than Copal did," Domino said and pulled the stolen gun from his suit. He had gone through this in his head many times and planned it, but now that he was at it he didn't follow his fine plans at all.
He just fired, and that was it.
The dart hit Hector's chest and only then the crime lord realised what had happened. He was shocked and surprised; he had never thought he would get shot by Domino. He had guessed that if someone was ever to shoot him it would be Salvador Limones, not a mere ex-reaper.
And after a few seconds he was recovered enough to try pulling out his own gun, but Domino wasn't about to give him that chance. He fired his gun again and again and soon flowers covered most of Hector. He was still standing, that had to be said to his credit. He was screaming -- more because of anger than pain -- just like everyone else though.
To his surprise Domino felt no pleasure when Hector's even more lifeless than before body fell. He was only disappointed, mainly in Hector, but also in himself.
He slipped the gun inside his suit again and turned around when someone stepped on the roof.
To be continued...
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