To Catch a Dragon

The priest began the service in Spanish; although I didnt understand the words, the power of his sermon shook the foundation of my soul. He asked us to bow our heads in prayer with everyone complying, but Ramone and I. It was at this precise moment, I noticed a vehicle turn into the entrance to the cemetery taking in every detail. Even though it had been dark the night before my instincts told me it was the same Lincoln I saw then.

I dropped my hat, and Ramone said one word in Spanish. Every eye fell on the intruders. I immediately felt the intensity of the atmosphere increase all around me. The black Lincoln rounded the final turn coming directly towards us. The vehicles we arrived in were parked out of the way on the other side of the road giving the Lincoln room to pass unhindered. When the windows began to go down Ramone gave another order in Spanish, and all hell broke lose. The tables holding the many flowers was over turned by the men positioned beside them forming a barricade for everyone to hide behind. Ramone had shown his hand, but it was already too late for the Lincoln to make a retreat.

I pulled my forty-fives, stepping behind a large gravestone, seeing the barrels of the assassins weapons emerge from both windows. When the first shots were fired, the gravestone shattered from the impact of the first bullets fired sending pieces flying into my face. I knew then I was the target, and my enemies intended to disguise my murder as another casualty in the Mexican drug war. Skipsens warning saved my life, and the lives of the guest who would have been present. I returned the fire in the direction of the Lincoln, as gunfire erupted all around me. The roar was deafening, and our uninvited guests were getting more than they bargained for.

The gunman in the backseat took several hits, sending blood and brain matter flying all over the other men in the car, but the other assassin took his place. The weapons were no longer firing in my direction, so I stepped out from behind the tombstone, and started running towards the Lincoln firing into the front window. I was aiming for the shooter letting my instincts take control of my actions. Death no longer held me on a leash, controlling me with fear; I had beaten death once, and was determined to do so again. My first two shots took out the trash firing from the front window, the automatic weapon falling out the window, as his body slammed into the driver. The gunman firing from the backseat was busy returning the fire from Ramones people, giving me time to fire three more shots at the driver, hitting him in the shoulder and the head. Reacting to instinct alone, the next shot was aimed at the front tire with success; it exploded from the impact of the bullet. At the same time, I felt a searing heat pass through my shoulder followed by excruciating pain, and the force of the bullet knocked me to the ground. I saw the car careen off the narrow road, crashing into several tombstones before coming to a complete stop. The lone survivor tried desperately to climb out the back door, but was hit by several large caliber bullets causing his body to be twisted around like a puppet on a string.

My obstreperous dark side surfaced then, probably deafening my enemies all the way in Dred. Tears of anger and pain flowed down my cheeks as I ran towards the stalled Lincoln, emptying both weapons into the still bodies of the gunmen who had hoped to take my life in cold blood. "Surprise motherfuckers," I screamed, "You underestimated me again. Wont you ever fucking learn?" The firing pins snapped on empty chambers, bringing me back to my senses.

Ramone came running up beside me, concerned about my wound. "Sit down Outlawe, Youre losing a lot of blood. Im calling a doctor, hes waiting close by incase someone got hurt, so stay calm until he gets here." I was glad he was prepared for the worst; in less than five minutes a doctor was on the scene attending to Lanette, the lady who had taken Rosalitas place and I.

While the doctor was trying to stop Lanettes bleeding, Ramone took my hand, and said, "Thank you Outlawe, your special gift saved many live today."

I was beginning to get weak, and shock was seizing control of my body. "Dont thank me, thank Skipsen; if it wasnt for me this wouldve never happened, and he would still be alive," I replied, as guilt permeated my tortured mind.

"You cant blame yourself for what has happened here today, or for Skipsens death. Remember his words you are so fond of, what will be will be. You cannot change the past so dont dwell on it either, or it will drive you crazy. You must rest now, and soon well get you back to the hacienda where you will be safe." He said this in an attempt to remove some of the weight from my shoulders.

I asked him to turn over the bodies of the men who attacked us because I had to know if Id seen them before. Ramone told a couple of his men to bring the bodies over so I could take a closer look at them, and sure enough one of them had been to my house recently. I hadnt let him come inside because I didnt know him, and with this revelation another piece of the puzzle snapped into place. I remembered who he came over with and told Ramone, who else Recon. My vision was getting a little fuzzy, but I vaguely remember an eighteen-wheeler arriving, and the Lincoln with the bodies inside was loaded into the trailer, then the graveyard began to fade as darkness descended on me.