“Wha…?”

“What the Hell is going on? I dare ask.”

“Oh! You must be new. This, uh, is a lab.”

I went -_- before muttering, “You mean we are going to be tested on or something?”

“The last people were tortured. They said before them they were sex slaves. They say this guy’s sick. He needs three people each.” The guy gestured to the other next to him, “He’s my boyfriend, Holan. I’m Donny.”

I nodded, “Vic. Is that weirdo coming back any time soon?”

“He does this a lot, but always on schedule. I’d say it’s about 2AM. In an hour or so, he will come back to check on us.”

I took that in before attempting to stand up. It felt weird, but I sighed. “I learned this in Muay Thai.” I jumped as high as I could and lifted my feet up. Once I hit the ground, the chair broke in large pieces but I was able to get up without having the chair attached to me. The rope slipped off and I headed to Donny and Holan.

Donny cocked his head, “What the fuck?”

“Don’t ask.” After I untied them, I slapped Holan’s cheek lightly, “Wake up, we’re getting outta here.”

Holan’s eyes were closed and he seemed very weak and tired. Donny held his cheek, “Holan, please get up. Hurry, before he comes back.”

“I…,” His voice was raspy and frail.

I lifted his arms and wrapped one of them around my neck, “Where’s the door, Donny?”

“Usually on that side.”

It was pretty dark, but I adjusted like a cat and walked slowly. There could have been things like-

*zeee*

I stopped short, holding Holan back. Red lasers were visible and I mentally cursed, “This bitch…” I handed Holan to Donny, and cracked my neck. “Lemme stretch.” After doing some warm ups, I took a deep breath, trying to calm my angry nerves.

“Be careful, the last person who did this…”

“I know what happens. I’ve tried this before.”

I stuck my foot forward and took my first step. I moved my head under a laser, almost running into another. I took my other foot to my side. I got into a very low position and slid my leg under a laser. I gulped before swing my head and other leg under swiftly. I looked around, seeing where I should be going.

‘Bingo.’ I saw a black case attached to the wall and there was a beeping light above it. I stood up half way, my thighs turning sore. But I reached forward to touch the cold wall. I brought my legs over in a tiny hop, successfully getting through. This part was complicated. I decided to lift my leg up, to my waist and jumped.

“Goddammit!”

Donny gasped when he saw a piece of my jeans come off of my leg.

But I was fine, partially. Just a small cut. I continued on and got through in a few seconds. I reached to touch the case. I could almost feel the heat of the lasers at my chest. But I swung it open and pressed the big red button.

The lasers disappeared and I closed my eyes, ‘Thank God.’

I gestured for Donny to come over with Holan. When they got to my side by the door, I whispered, “Stay quiet. I’ll go first and tap my foot once if there is someone, twice if the coast is clear.” He barely nodded when I opened the door and headed out. Everything was dark, but again I managed. There was no sound at all when I stopped inside of a corner. I was in the living room, and the front door was right there.

When I tapped my foot twice, and Donny and Holan got to my side, the front door opened. Donny gasped a sob but I slapped my hand over his lips and watched. The guy made his way to the other side of the room, which was the kitchen.

Then I took my chance and slightly shut the door from where we came from. When I was gonna go back to the corner, I saw the guy heading my way. I took off my rubber band and aimed for the living room, signaling for Donny to duck down. I plucked and it hit the guy’s lamp. He stopped short, made a tiny grunt, and walked into the living room.

When he was distracted, I gestured for Donny and Holan to follow me up the stairs. I let them go first, and we were soundlessly walking. When we got to the hallway, I finally heard his voice.

“I know you’re up there.”

I pushed Holan and Donny into a room and locked the door. Donny was panicking and Holan was woken up. I pushed up a big desk to the door and searched his drawers. I found some knives and took the smallest but sharpest one. I hid the rest under his bed before I heard a loud bang on the door.

Donny screamed and Holan held him, but I went to the window and opened it, “Out! Now!”

The two went first, shaking as I helped them out. I whispered something to them when the door was broken down. I saw the guy who seemed crazier looking than before. I jumped out of the window and shoved the guys in a roof-corner. They seemed perfectly hidden and I stood in front of the window, at the tip of the end of the roof.

“Vic, don’t do it-”

“Don’t make a sound, Donny. Holan, make sure he stays there. Don’t do anything, I know exactly what I’m doing.”

The sound of a desk being thrown made me look back at the window and he was coming. I twirled the knife, hiding it at the side of my thigh. His eyes were red and his smile was creepy. But I held myself up, sweat so cold the wind blew and made me shiver inside.

“You’re smart, aren’t you, girly?”

“Come and see, dipshit.”

He came through the window in anger, teeth clenched, growling. He ran after me and that was when I stuck the knife into his stomach. We were falling off of the roof but I managed to pull the knife and slice his throat.

I hit the floor, feeling the body on my side slowly stop breathing as hot blood filled my hands.

“Any last words…before we…depart?”

“You fucked with the wrong Asian, fucker.” I clenched the knife before stabbing him in a place no man would like.

His scream filled the entire silent streets, but my eyes closed when I felt my head bleeding.

Donny and Holan came out of the house shouting, “Holan’s calling the cops! Oh, Vic, please don’t die on us…”

-

-

I woke up again, but this time not tied up in a dark room. Instead, I was in a white hospital, in a soft bed. I grunted, feeling my head throbbing.

“Vic!”

I heard a friend of mine’s voice, “Sunny?”

He sighed deeply, “Those two guys told me what happened.” He stroked my hair, “I was so worried…”

“It’s okay. At least they’re safe now, right?”

“Yeah…”

Right then, Donny and Holan came in. Donny with a smile and Holan with a polite grin. Donny spoke first, “Oh my gosh, Vic, thanks so much for what you did.”

Holan added, “It was amazing. I thought we’d be gone if it weren’t for you. We owe you big time.”

Donny nodded excitedly, “And the guy died, don’t worry. They took him away and they said we’ll never encounter him again.”

Holan then smiled brightly, “Cool thing is, they got it all on camera.”

I asked, “What?”

“That guy,” started Donny, “had cameras everywhere. We were the ones who installed them. We work for a company and when we watched the videos…you were fantastic!”

I shook my head, “No, I wasn’t. I was just…trying to get you guys out. Plus, this isn’t the first time I’ve saved a bunch of others from some idiot. Although, I say, this was the hardest. Yet even still, it was nothing.”

Donny was about to protest, but he then saw Sunny and smiled fondly, “Is this your boyfriend?”

I turned into shock, “Wha- I- No.”

“Sure~ Okay, well…bye, Vic. We’ll visit you tomorrow!”

After they left, Sunny gave me a look and I asked, “What?”

“It’s my fault, isn’t it?”

“No, I wanted to take your shift.”

He pursed his lips.

“But gawd! I don’t even like pizza!”

Sunny laughed at me, and held my hand, “I’m glad you’re okay.”

I smiled at his hand and tightened our grip, “I’m glad you’re here.”

This card brought back memories of the beautiful country of Mexico, especially the Copper Canyon. And it was a reminder of how young my grandchildren were the first time we played Mexican Bingo in Portland. They are growing up now and some of them even are learning Spanish.

So as I always say, “Portland is a very small town.” Where else would I stop by a table with a jar of Mexican Bingo cards and turn into a writer.

He weaved from support to support, planting the C-4 charges. Juan had practiced until thought faded into action. He saw the timer counting down to detonation as if it was suspended in front of him. One minute left.

The last charge was planted just as the first exploded. Juan heard the groan of tearing metal as the first one toppled. He froze, stunned. It worked. Months of training had never prepared him for this. It was never expected to work.

“Juan! Juan, get your ass moving,” the voice came from the darkness to the left. “Damn.”

Carlos dashed out from behind cover and dragged Juan from his reverie. Juan glanced behind him to see the trail of explosions in his waked. The sunlight blinded him. He’d never seen the sun, not since Mexico became the solar-farm for North America.

The last he saw of his work before sliding down the hill was a bird flying across the blue sky.

“Ned, you know I have no time for this,” she sputtered into her cell phone as she dug into her bag looking for her—what was she looking for?

As she stepped between the parked cars driving herself toward the storefront marked “Decorations” (whoever thought that was a good shop name?), her booted toe collided with something hard. She stumbled, tried to catch herself, and felt her food slide over something. As her cell phone clattered onto the sidewalk, her foot smashed through the rind of a melon.

Unsure of what to do next, caught by the immediacy of her boot stuck in the rind, she twisted and plopped herself down on the curb and began to laugh.

Filled with the mysterious and the obvious, it patiently waits for those who will find themselves surrounded by its eternal peace.

Newspaper columnists – theater reviews, boating. “New Yorker” short story. Magazine articles. Writing awards.

All successful.

All alcoholics.

I am a writer – not yet published.

I do not drink.

At the very least, maybe I’ll get to live longer and write more.

At the very most, maybe I’ll get to live longer and write more.

Sigh.

- I’m going north
- What?
- I’m going north. I got a letter from my brother.
- You’re crazy. They’re killing everyone in the north.
- That’s why I have to go.
- To get killed?
- To stop it. To help my brother stop it.
- They’ll kill you.
- I’ll kill them first.
- With what? You don’t have a gun.
- That’s why I need a loan.
- No.
- Why?
- You’re too young.
- I’m 15.
- You don’t know how to fight.
- My brother will show me.

Sigh.

- I can’t.
- Johnny. Please.
- You’re too young.
- Well, you’re not going. Who else will fight the Fascists?
-
- Johnny. Please.
- How much?
- 50 pesetas. I’ll pay you back.
- You’ll be dead. I’ll never get my money back.
- 40 pesetas. Johnny. 40.
-