The Time Stone, Third Edition (Extended Version)
Chapter 54

The next day at early morning, the rooster crowed over the small town of Javierita with a loud cock a doodle doo, awaking everyone and beginning the bustle of movement in the town square edging on through the busy day. The local church is preparing for its mid-morning mass as the priests blessed the candles and flowers for the ceremony, carried by a couple of altar boys in a small procession to the chapel while the church bell swung ringing in harmony with it. Dozens of farmers and merchants began their local run to market with their produce and wares. The business of local commerce filled the atmosphere as fruit pickers sold their wares and farmers marketed their livestock and produce to those passing by.

“Open your heart to those in need. Time heals all wounds as does living a good life.” Then suddenly a loud explosion erupted near the church and flowers went flying into the air as the broken limbs of young men splattered in a bloody mess on the steps of the chapel. “Oh my God” yelled the monsignor and the old women in attendance, crossing themselves.

“ALL ATTENTION BRAINWASHED MASSES.” Yells a voice in a dark and crinkled tone, as smoke screens erupted but soon faded, revealing one young man dressed in a black loose fitting suit, dark mask like a ninja wrapped around his face, but for his eyes, a red bandana around his head, and red lace around his waist. He has silver daggered objects on his gloves as extensions of his fists and knuckles, and a large steel blade, a legendary scimitar hanging down his back. He grits his teeth underneath his mask as he speaks philosophically, but vengefully. “We are the avengers of truth and justice, saviors beyond space and time, protectors of the great treasure of reality itself.” He jumped down and stands legs astride facing the mass of spectators gathered as they stared up into his fiery eyes. The noise from the winds and roar of the people in sudden shock is enough to distract them as the ninja stands and reaches into his satchel sack and grabs for an object inside of it, a small slender clear bottle that has a rag sticking out the end of it. He reached for his lighter and lit it on fire, a blaze of infernal heat and tossed it towards the church in a single throw. The church caught fire upon impact and exploded within seconds. He began to light another, then two more after that, throwing them. The crowd ran in fear as the man stands and laughs with his hands on his hips, proud of his actions.

“Who are they?” Asks people from time to time, who have encountered them, to which the only response received was, and “they are the Culto.” The local police were baffled. They could not replace out who was responsible for the attack. And none were apprehended, but this violent group caused rampant destruction in the name of justice.

“They are the sinister of the most sinister as revered throughout the local community and hidden away in complete darkness until they strike in furtherance of their agenda, a sense of higher nobility for themselves at the expense of innocence lost and life squandered, they protected the artifact that represented the greatest secret and power of the ancient world, a might of a long-lost civilization, they are the forbearers of grief and sin, but in their own honor and righteousness. The fiends who burned down the church are believed by local officials to be the heart and soul of this monstrous organization. “This is Priscilla Montenegro, channel Nuevo news.”The Television set clicked off and Mercedes looks at it with a puzzling glare.

“They’re a cult? I can’t believe someone would burn down Saint Rosario’s.” She adds.

“Senora Hernando, don’t worry. They will be punished. I hear of the man who did it, a shadow of a man, dark clothing with red bands” says Mercedes.

“He will not be found. The police are just as corrupt and justice will not be known, at least not in this world.” Mrs. Hernando walks to her bedroom. “I am too tired to think about it. I must pray and then rest.”

“Good night,” Says Mercedes.

“Good night child.” Mercedes stayed up thinking about how anyone can be so cold and calculating. She saw Juan Carlos come in. “Thank God I found someone decent,” she thought to herself, “he is completely the opposite of the monster that attacked the church.”

“Hey honey,” she got up, smiles, and gave him a bear hug from behind.

“Oh hey, I got to go,” he takes out a glass from the cupboard and poured himself some orange juice.

“Oh, where is that? I’m done with my chores so I’m all yours tonight,” she adds.

“I got business meetings with some colleagues.”

“Oh OK.” she nodded and walks away and sits down at the kitchen table. “I’m sure I will replace something to do tonight.”

“You can go to the movies in town tonight. There is a new chick flick on there and you might meet some good friends.”

“I’m actually pretty tired. I think I’ll just say a prayer for the victims of today’s bombing then I will turn in.”

“Yeah, some attack huh?”

“It is horrible,” she got up and walks to her bedroom door and opens it. “The attackers will burn in a special place in hell, for sure.” She went into her bedroom and closed the door.

”Um, yeah” Juan Carlos uttered as he walks out of the house.

That evening, Juan Carlos and his cohorts donned their black robes and red satchels and bandanas, and gathered in the dry forest surrounding the outskirts of town. They have obtained coolers of beer, tequila, and traditional fried delicacies for a party. “Gentlemen, today we celebrate our victory as we are one step closer to succeeding in our mission and to grow, as our organization has one new member tonight personally responsible for our achievement in the Saint Rosario encounter. Juan Carlos Hernando, my cousin and good friend. Cheers to Juan Carlos.” The leader of the group raised his beer can as did the entire crew and toasted to their benefactor screaming “Yeah!”

“Today we have some good food and good drinks and good women for our entertainment pleasure. Men, come on and sit back and enjoy the dancing sensations and more, of The Women of the River.” A series of young attractive women began to come out from behind a curtain set up in the backdrop of the nearby forest; they were scantily dressed in bikinis and veils, belly dancing before them. The men hollered in amusement and drank and ate heavily, trying to grab parts of the women’s anatomy. Juan Carlos sits on the far end watching and holding his full can of beer. He has a severely depressed frown on his face. His cousin Julio, the leader, approached and sits down next to him. “Hey Juanito, what’s up? You not enjoying the show man, I did all of this for you.”

“Thanks, but I guess I’m not in the mood. I got a lot on my mind.” Juan Carlos grimaced.

“You look like it’s a woman problem, man”, says Julio.

“I think she is upset at me.” Juan Carlos says.

“Who are you talking about?” Julio inquired with a grin. “Never mind, she isn’t worth it! Come on let’s get out of uniform to handle this party, Cousin.”

Juan Carlos takes off his Culto robe revealing his street clothes to the party as did the rest of the crew, traditional flannel shirts and jeans like most of the field laborers in town. Mercedes interrupts the party and comes running over the distance and replaces Juan Carlos.

“What are you doing here?” He screams as he grabbed her by the arm and pushed her aside.

“I followed you.” Mercedes speaks frantically.

“Why?” Says Juan Carlos as Julio looks at him with fear in his eyes that a nonmember is present and began to run away.

“Juan Carlos, I need you. I don’t want to be without you. Please come back home with me. I’ll stay here with you. I won’t go back.” Mercedes pleaded.

“Go back where? Anyway, this is not the right time or the place.” He scolded, “but I feel the same way.” They stared into one another’s eyes and saw peace as they recognized something that belonged to each other. “Wait for me at home. I am almost done here.”

“OK,” she smiles and kissed him on the lips then ran off. Juan Carlos walks back to the party and saw his cousin surrounded by other members who did not look happy. “What’s up guys?”

“That isn’t smart, Cousin. You shouldn’t have brought her here.” Julio looks at him angrily, surrounded by his fellow warriors arming themselves.

“She came on her own, how was I to know I was followed?” Juan Carlos questioned.

“That type of incompetence is not a good thing for our organization. If some chick could compromise us, what’s that to say for the police or worse?” Julio barked.

“Worse?” Juan Carlos uttered inquisitively.

“We got major enemies against us, higher forces.” Julio screams.

“I don’t understand.” Juan Carlos shakes his head.

“You’re not supposed to,” Julio smirks with his arms crossed before him. “The bottom line is, Cousin that someone who is not a member knows about this place. We got to immediately relocate….”

“She didn’t see anything.” Juan Carlos interrupted.

“It is not important,” he yells in Spanish. “She knows where it is. We’ve been compromised, and as I was saying, we got to immediately relocate” he speaks angrily “just in case she tells others and most importantly, we got to eliminate her permanently.”

“No”.

“Why man, you didn’t mind blowing up the people who were at the church in the pueblo” Julio says.

“Well…” Juan Carlos started.

“You aren’t in love with this woman, are you?” Julio asks.

“What if I am? Are you questioning my loyalty?” Juan Carlos yells.

“Don’t raise your tone. That’s a problem we need to fix right away. You can’t… I know you are the one to eliminate her.” Julio says handing him a knife.

“What?” Juan Carlos questioned, horrified.

“Yes, you eliminate her. It is the only way to test your true loyalty to the club.” Julio says.

“I…” Juan Carlos started biting his lip, piercing it and causing it to bleed, as he fought back tears.

“If you don’t eliminate her by tomorrow at this time, we eliminate you.” Julio looks at him sincerely and Juan Carlos gulped in astonished disbelief. “And your mother too.”

“I’ll do it….” Juan Carlos reluctantly replies.