Chapter 7: Unleashed

"Come out, Los Azules! There's no escape."

"Oh boy, didn't expect them to return so soon."

Ok, should I go see Ramirez and probably fall into their trap where both of us die? Well, a crazy idea is better than dying.

I then sneak around the facility to look for a place that's perfect for CQB.

I stumble into a bigger area full of metallic doors and glass. On the other side of the glass, there's a Chupacabra.

"Hello, Chupacabra. Un grr."

The chupacabra viciously claws at the door.

"Yeah, I don't blame you—the song sucks."

I don't know why I said those words. I blame it on Ramirez and that song.

"Alright, let's see if we can free all of you."

I look for a control panel.

"Ah, mierda, it's locked and I don't know how to hack this."

I check my pocket for some explosives.

"Ah, I ran out of explosives."

Then I hear footsteps.

I quickly hide and find what appears to be a scientist.

"Ah, dammit! These cartel goons are useless. I thought they would help me evacuate. My research papers are much more precious than those ugly mutts I experimented on."

I sneakily approach the scientist and put my gun to his head.

"Hey there, amigo. Looks like you're one of the scientists here, right?"

"Huh? Eh, what do you want?" He answers me nonchalantly.

"Really? I put a gun to your head and this is your response?"

"Oh please, I can easily grab your gun. I've calculated every possible outcome with my brain."

"Eh, sure, amigo. I'd like to see you try. Hehe."

Then the scientist suddenly turns and tries to grab my gun, but before he can reach it, I kick him first.

"Typical smartass—always thinking they're better than anyone else. But look, you missed leg day and you don't work out."

"Ah, ok, fine! I uhh... surrender! Don't kill me—I still need to complete my research."

"See? That wasn't so hard. How do I control the chupacabras?"

"Uhh, theoretically we don't control the chupacabras. We just tag you with a laser like this."

Then suddenly a group of chupacabras appears before me.

"Ha-ha! Bet you didn't expect this, detective. Hope you already finished your prayers."

Ah, mierda! I let my guard down.

"Well, you chupacabras are bored here. Listen to this."

I play the frequency that was able to distract the last chupacabra attack, but this time it doesn't seem to work.

"Ah, great."

One of the chupacabras lunges at me. I dodge its sharp claws.

"Phew, that was close."

I then take off my jacket to use it as a shield.

"Alright, come here, you mutt."

I wave my jacket like I'm one of those matadors.

The first chupacabra lunges again, but this time my jacket is able to blind its eyes and I punch it in the head.

"Sorry, little one. Hope María will forgive me."

Then there are only three dogs remaining against me and my half-torn jacket.

The second chupacabra lunges toward me. I try to do the same thing, but it dodges my jacket and its claws cause a tear in my pants.

"Ah, damn! Well, I guess they're mutated for a reason."

"Eh, what to do..."

Suddenly I remember: "Oh yeah, I put an explosive on one of the dog cages."

I press the button to explode it.

The dogs get distracted by the explosive sound, and I manage to wrestle the second chupacabra. This time I hit it with the butt of my gun.

The third one charges at me. I shoot its legs this time, hoping the cartel members holding Ramirez are distracted by the explosive noise.

But I can't find the last one—the big one.

"Come out, dog! I have uhh... food."

I try to look for the chupacabra, but I can't find it.

Suddenly the chupacabra appears right in front of me.

"Woah, Jesus!"

Then the chupacabra is nowhere to be found. Oh great, this is going to be a pain in the ass.

Could the chupacabra learn to camouflage? Nah, that only exists in science fiction. But suddenly I see the paint moving.

"Well, looks like I've seen it all—from ghosts, brujas, and now camouflaged Chupacabras."

Then I shoot where I think the chupacabra is located, but I miss.

Then it lunges at me, causing me to fall.

Well, I guess this is it. Sorry, Pa. Sorry, Mom. And sorry, María.

As it tries to bite my neck, the dog from earlier charges at the chupacabra, causing it to fall.

"Woof, woof!" The dog licks my face.

"Hehe, alright. Looks like you're a good boy—or girl, I don't know."

I pat the dog.

Then it looks like the chupacabra goes invisible, but this time the dog manages to locate it—I guess it can sense it from the smell—and it surprises the chupacabra.

The dog manages to bite its legs, causing it to be immobilized.

"Woof, woof!"

"Yeah, you're a really good boy. Now let's save my partner."

I then return to the room where the remaining chupacabras are still being held.

"Alright, I'm just gonna..."

I shoot the control panel since I already lost the element of surprise—might as well make another one.

I then point the laser to make sure the chupacabras follow me.

The chupacabras follow me along with the dog.

I walk to the entrance of the lab where I think Ramirez is being held hostage.

"Ramirez, are you ok?"

"Hernandez, don't! It's a trap!"

Then a gun is pointed at me.

"Ah, detective! Glad you're able to join us. We were just about to shoot your partner here."

"Yeah, well, now I'm here. Don't shoot him, please."

Then a gunshot.

"Ramirez, you pendejo!"

"Hehe, luckily I intentionally missed, but the next one will be real."

The man with the lucha libre mask points the gun at me now.

"I assume you know who I am."

"Yeah, El Místico Sangriento (The Bloody Mystic)."

"Hehe, looks like you know me because I sure knew your father—the cop."

"Wait, what did you say?"

I try to charge at the man, but I get hit by the butt of a gun by one of the cartel goons.

"Hehe, how fragile your emotions are, detective."

"I do remember your father back then. He was a prominent cop, but looks like he was secretly a cartel man—helping the cartel learn the movements of the cops and tampering with evidence."

"Shut up! That's not true at all!" I snarl at El Místico.

"Oh, looks like you don't even know your father that well. Oh, that's right—he was gunned down by his sworn hermano, right?"

"Anyway, I've already wasted enough time here. I'm going to miss my son's wrestling match."

"Men, kill his partner first, ok? So we can see him suffer. Haha."

"No! Hernandez, please!"

But before the goon can shoot his gun, I reach for the laser in my pocket and point it at the goon.

"Surprise, pendejo!"

Suddenly a group of chupacabras attacks the cartel goons. Somehow they don't attack me or Ramirez—I guess these animals hold a grudge against them.

"Ramirez, come here!"

Then one of the chupacabras lunges at El Místico, but before it can bite him, El Místico holds its jaw.

"Ah, you damn mutt! Looks like I wasted my money."

Then even more chupacabras charge at El Místico, but he manages to throw or incapacitate some of them.

"Dammit! What is this guy made of, Hernandez?" says Ramirez.

"I don't know—probably steroids."

"What did you just say, detective? Steroids?"

"Huh, well, I guess I just have to show you how real my muscles are."

Then El Místico kicks the ground, making all the chupacabras scared, and they run, leaving me and Ramirez alone with El Místico.

"Hehe, good. Now I can wreck your bones, detective."

Then El Místico charges at me, grabs my neck, and pushes me against the wall.

"Ah, damn!"

"Hehe, you see, detective? You see how real my muscles are?"

"Yeah, I can see that. Ahh!"

El Místico chokes my neck.

"Hehe, soon you'll be reunited with your padre."

"Well, I'm sorry, but looks like that's not going to happen anytime soon."

I then whistle.

"Huh? What are you doing?"

Then the dog runs and bites El Místico's ass.

"Huh? Ahhh, damn!"

He lets go of me.

"Hehe, try to explain that mark to your wife."

"Hernandez, quickly! Let's get out of here!"

Ramirez is already standing at the elevator after being punched by El Místico.

"Ok, see you, El Místico! Dog, come with me!"

"Woof, woof!"

The dog and I then run to the elevator.

"Is that a dog? What's it doing, and why is it following you?"

"It's a long story. Now press the button, Ramirez."

"Eh, ok, Hernandez."

Ramirez then presses the button and the elevator starts to work.

"Wooh, that was a close call, right, Her—"

Then suddenly the elevator stops working.

"Ah, what is this?"

Then I look out of the elevator and underneath, and I see El Místico holding the elevator down.

"You think you can escape after you humiliated me, Los Azules?"

"Eh, yeah, I think so."

I then detonate the explosive I put near the elevator door.

The explosive detonates, causing El Místico to fall and let go of the elevator.

"Ah, mierda! You'll pay for this, detective!"

Suddenly the elevator starts to work.

Then we return to the warehouse and find Fernando and the rest of the forensic crew waiting for us above.

"Ah, thank Jesus! You guys are alright."

"Hehe, you're late, boss."

"Is El Místico down there with the missing chemicals?"

"Yes, sir. I'll give you the report later."

"Hehe, well, what are you doing here? Work on the report now!!!"

"Eh, yeah, sure. Right away."

"What? I thought we were going to celebrate, Hernandez."

"Yeah, well, get used to making the report before we can celebrate, Ramirez. And cheer up—looks like we have a new police dog for us."

"Wait, is that a dog? Hernandez, make sure to keep it on a leash, ok? Not because it might be dangerous, but you know it's a street dog, so it might wander off." Fernando backs away slowly from the dog.

"Wait, boss, are you afraid of dogs?"

"What? Ehh, no! Just before you return to the station, buy a leash for the dog, ok?"

"Ok, sir."

We then return to Vincent's car.

"Glad Fernando didn't call the foreign division—we can continue to use the car."

"Yeah, Hernandez, but wait... why does it smell like pee? Did—"

The dog then pees on the seat.

"Woof, woof!"

"Hehe, I like this dog even more now."

To be continued
Stay tuned for the epilogue
See you next Wednesday for that