The Hut
The Hut
Santiago
In the heart of this dense, silent forest, Teresa finds herself face to face with me in this abandoned cabin, surrounded by old trees dating back many years. The decrepit wooden walls discolored and cracked from age and weathering. The roof is covered in green moss, a sign of neglected dampness, while some of the boards are rotten, leaving gaping holes through which insects and rodents have taken possession. The windows, destroyed by the passage of time, where you can see the sills of the shutters, half detached, are covered in cobwebs, giving the appearance of transparent white veils that have been intentionally laid over them, adding a mysterious touch to the already gloomy décor.
The floor is covered with dry leaves and debris. In the corner of the room, on an old table, lies a thick layer of dust and an old, rusty stove, unused for ages. Next to it, an old bookshelf crumbles under the weight of once-lit candles, forming strange wax shapes, and an old book whose torn white pages have turned sepia. The air is thick with the smell of mould and earth, with only a small kerosene lamp illuminating the room that Alavaro has found and turned on. My unruffled face stares hatefully at this cleaning lady, waiting for her to reveal her true identity and then her accomplices.
"Who are you working for?" I asked in a low, serious voice.
Instead of answering me, she sobbed like a shit, which pissed me off and I slapped her.
"I repeat for the last time: who are you working for, you bitch?"
" I..I..work..for..Mer.."
"Speak, bitch! Who sent you?!" I shout angrily.
Hesitantly, she finally responds and her answer hits me hard in the face.
"Mercedes.."
What?! I didn't see that one coming! She's under surveillance as far as I know. So there must be someone protecting her and I'm about to find out.
My eyes darken as the name is spoken, echoing in my mind like a stinging cloak. This revelation I've just heard vibrates in the depths of my being, making my blood boil, as if an inner storm were preparing to erupt. My gaze metamorphosed, taking on a deeper, almost unfathomable hue. They become an abyss of anger and disappointment, reflecting an unbearable betrayal. I clench my fists, the tension in his muscles betraying my gasping breathing. Every beat of my heart sounded like a war drum, while my eyes, charged with darkness, already knew this long-hidden secret indirectly. Between this rage and pain, my two men advance towards me, trying to temper me, but I stop them by raising my hand and they take a step back.
"Now I want to know everything about you, and you're going to tell me straight out. Next, what exactly did that trout Mercedes ask you to do?"
Trapped, feeling the pressure of my stare, heavy as a stone, she nods, inhales deeply and launches herself.
"My name is Maria, Teresa is a name given to me by one of your men, who is Mercedes' accomplice. His name is Alejandro. He’s been watching you for a while and can't really get any information about you because you're so protected. Even though I can't get anything, I play the game to buy time so I don't die. Mercedes wants to know everything about you so that your father will hate you even more and disinherit you."
I smile mischievously and my soul gloats at such words, while Maria is seized with fear, so I approach her and stare intently.
"Well, to spare your life, whereas I usually kill traitors shamelessly, I want you to work for me, to be my eyes and ears."
I see her eyes shining with hope and force herself to be calm and I continue.
"Don't rejoice too quickly, little idiot. I'm invincible and the only small piece of advice I can give you is that if you betray me, you'll pay the price. I am more powerful than you think, far more powerful than my father and I don't give a damn about his legacy. Mercedes does not know who I really am, and neither do you. That's why she's doing everything she can to find the smallest detail to make me fall, and I doubt she'll succeed."
Hearing what I had to say and feeling even more frightened, she decided to say something.
"I am under your command now, and I promise you on what I hold most dear". she promises.
"Your first attempt is to continue working for Alejandro, giving him false information about me while you give me the real information about him and Mercedes."
"How can I get false information about you?"
"You won't have to worry about that, my two right-hand men here will give them to you, won't they, guys?"
"Yeah boss," they reply in unison.
"And you'll be watched 24 hours a day by my men. So the slightest slip-up and you'll go straight to hell. Is that understood, sparrow-brain?"
"Now, just to get it straight in your little head, let me introduce myself. I am the godfather of the 'La Domina' organization, Gabriele El Drago. "
Hearing what I have just revealed, she widens her eyes like the hole in a donut.
"From your reaction, I deduce that you know or have heard of this famous character. So be careful, now you know who you are dealing with."
"Yes, but I knew the former godfather, Enrico Lombardi."
"And how did you know him?"
"By word of mouth in a bar when your father was there one night. I'd heard he wanted to meet him but never could. That's all I know."
Hmm, that kiddo knows things. I will have to keep a close eye on her, and she's the perfect bait in case I need her services again for my revenge plans.
"Know that it was I who killed him. Take her and let's get out of here!"
I think I have made myself clear, and without a word, my two colossuses grab him with an arm on either side. We emerge from the hut to the shrill sound of an owl perched on a branch.
×××
The night is dark, enveloping the abandoned cabin in a heavy atmosphere. The air is fresh and laden with the scent of damp leaves and earth, while the timid glow of the moon casts its shadow on the tree branches. We exit the cabin carefully and slowly. With my two allies, side by side beside me, with the presence of Maria, I have to say that my mind is elsewhere. My thoughts loop around the plans I have taken time to meticulously draw up, analyzing every detail so as not to screw up later. I hate failure.
"As for the double I code, it's time to put an end to it once and for all. It's taken us too long. I will let you know when we need to take action." I swing suddenly.
"Okay boss"
As we leave the forest, the landscape clears, revealing an open field where the starry sky stretches as far as the eye can see. I pause for a moment, observing the horizon, while my men continue to advance towards the car, with a group of men bringing up the rear. With a discreet gesture, I turn to them and motion for them to gather around me. I unexpectedly decided to have a quick meeting to get to know Maria.
"Meet Maria. A new member. She'll be our spy in Mexico, and you'll be responsible not only for her actions but also for her safety. However, the target to be eliminated immediately is Alejandro."
Alvaro beckons to Leopoldo, showing him the target in the small crowd I just mentioned. Without hesitation, Leopoldo pulls out his revolver and shoots Alejandro, who collapses to the ground. I look at Maria, who is in shock, putting her hands in front of her mouth, her eyes watering.
"Let this be a lesson to those who think they know better," I say angrily. Traitors are always detected in my milieu and as you can see, Maria, I couldn't hold back and had him promptly killed in cold blood.
Once Alejandro, this game that has been captured and killed, I have peace of mind that no one has the right to challenge my power and authority. The question of survival depends on their behavior and loyalty towards me.
"Nothing is done at random." I murmur hoarsely.
Hands shoved in the pockets of my black jeans, I stop abruptly, looking thoughtful. Every gesture, every decision, every word.. Everything has its weight, its consequence. I shake my head slightly, as if trying to chase away invisible demons that lurk in my thoughts when reason takes over.
When you cross a line, there is nothing you can do to undo the damage. You can ask for forgiveness, you can try to forget, but the scars remain.