Renewal of Gods and Blood [Part 3]

Izel was also in a strange trance the entire time Nevaeh spoke. Recalling the warm voice that he heard during that living nightmare he had to endure. —That voice… It was you— He thought. Looking at her like someone witnessed their personal guardian angel descend from the heavens.

“Well then, why didn’t I?” Izel broke the silence.

“That’s something I’d like to know too.” Carmen asked openly. “And if you're not with any Conquistadors… Then what makes you so special?” She then remarked, pointing at Izel.

“What’s… What’s your proposal, Carmen.” Tlacaelel slowly asked.

“I believe that what you went through was a sick experiment. I’ve seen and heard of stuff like this before.” Carmen declared. “So, they need to make sure that their property is safe and out of public view. They’re going to want their assets back, or they’ll lose a lot of money and time in research. I’d bet that they’re going to want to know how we stabilized him as well.” She explained.

“So, you’re saying he’s not safe.” Tlacaelel mentioned, as his posture shifted downward.

“Yup, same goes for Nevaeh and Espectro. People like that are incredibly dangerous.” Carmen revealed, letting the severity of the situation settle. “You’re going to have to roll with us for a while, basically as leverage if it comes down to the worst—A bodyguard if you will.” She then declared.

“No, no… There has to be another way.” Tlacaelel quickly objected, recognizing the danger of this risk. Izel, seeing the frustration on his father’s face.

“Tlacaelel, whoever that Caballero is, will come for your boy… It’s just the safest option for him to be near one of us.” Chima mentioned lowering his voice to ease Tlacaelel’s stress.

“But, that’s your choice, Elli… I’m not going to force either of you to do anything you don’t want to.” Carmen added.

Tlacaelel fell silent, in a calm fear for his son’s life. “Dad?” Izel softly asked. Tlacaelel then took a deep breath after looking at Izel.

“This is the safest alternative, isn’t it?” Tlacaelel asked.

“For this city. It's probably the best alternative.” Carmen answered.

“Izzy… Are you okay with this? You’d basically be working with them.” Tlacaelel asked his son.

“Someone has to protect these city folk, right?” Izel smiled with confidence.

“Alright.” Tlacaelel chuckled at Izel’s statement. “If you're fine with it, then so am I.” He then mentioned.

“Perfect. Let’s get you two home.” Carmen stood up. “Tenoch, do you mind taking them home, and help Yollohtli set up some new safety equipment.” She then asked, as Tenoch provided two thumbs up. “Oh, don’t worry about paying for it, Izel, you’ll work it off in the coming weeks.” She then grinned, as Izel frowned at the new reality he’s about to endure.

⧮ ⧯ ⧮

Izel and Tlacaelel soon left along with Tenoch and Yollohtli. The new way of life was clear for Izel, having the need of bodyguards and heavy security. As if a high profile individual, when in reality Izel is just one person in the wrong place at the wrong time. Moments after they walked out of the building, Izel was still trying to regain his footing. Having been unconscious for nearly two days. Stretching and hopping up and down, rotating his limbs from head to toe. Fully examining how his seemingly new body will function.

“So kid, what are you going to do next?” Tenoch asked on the way out of their base.

“Glad you asked, I’m going to need to pay Paire a visit.” Izel remarked, cracking his knuckles.

“Tha’s what I like to hear.” Tenoch stated, with a grin of devious agreement.

The evening was fastly coming to a close as the only lights that were available were the harmful shine of the neon signs on every building at the edges of central Nuevo Eztli—blasting gratuitous advertisements for products that 99% of the population will never use. Eventually arriving at Paire’s hut with anticipation, Izel was determined to get some answers, even Tenoch had expressions of excitement. Only because he’s one for a quick thrill.

“Paire! I got something to tell—!” Izel hollered as he quickly entered Paire’s hut, but instantly froze his words.

A mural of simplistic red enveloped the entire room. Bits of sparkling silver were scattered in the air, as they were the tranquil remains of Paire’s metallic body parts. Izel’s face shattered with distraught realization at the sight he witnessed. Paire was murdered. Right where Izel last saw him: At his computer desk of many screens, also painted with specs of blood. The most frightening thing is that some of the screens hadn’t changed since he first left. Meaning that this must have happened soon after Paire paid him. One large blast in his chest and one more in the head, clearly meant to be seen as a permanent kill shot.

“Holy shit!” Tenoch remarked with an incongruous chuckle and smile, completely regarding the massacred body. As Izel sat on the nearest chair, rethinking his situation.

“This isn’t a time to be laughing! He was clearly murdered! And not like the normal murder!” Izel shouted.

“So…” Tenoch asked with little interest.

“So! Whoever did this might do the same to me! Heh, they could even do the same for you…” Izel retorted with growing frustration.

“My god.” Tlacaelel slowly said, as him and Yollohtli walked into the hut.

“Let me call Carmen.” Yollohtli stated.

“Shit!” Izel cursed under his breath as he quickly opened his phone. “His last transaction was with me! That Caballero definitely knows who I am.” He quickly checked.

“This is my fault Izel.” Tlacaelel announced with guilt. “I should have known better… I knew… Well I thought I knew who you were helping out. The Papua Community has always been polite with me… But it looks like I was wrong there.” He slowly mentioned.

“No, you had good judgment, he was just one stain on something good.” Izel eased his father’s guilt, at the same time separating Paire from his culture and community.

“So, um, Carmen is somewhat upset that we came here.” Yollohtli announced. “She wants us to do a Digital Burn, before we leave.”

“Digital burn?” Tlacaelel asked.

“It's when we set up viral firewalls on tech that won’t be used anymore for anyone that might try to gain access to said tech.” Yollohtli explained.

“Do you have anything that can check if anyone has already accessed his tech?” Izel quickly asked.

“Yes, but I don’t see what good that will do. When they captured you they likely already figured out your name.” Yollohtli reasoned.

“Yeah…” Izel sighed. “Maybe we can try to figure out who they are, to learn about them, and maybe come up with a plan.” He then reasoned.

“I’ll see what I can do.” Yollohtli slowly answered.

Izel then sat on the nearest chair, with one hand over his mouth as his head was propped up by his arm, resting on his knee. To ponder his next plan of action. Considering the possibilities and outcomes of this unforeseen incident. Creating the best path for the future.

“Alright, are we done here? I’m bored of looking at this sad sack.” Tenoch announced, expressing his irritation at the dead body in the hut.