Photo by: J. Geronimo Herrera
STANISLAUS COUNTY, CA
Nathaniel couldn’t see anything. He could only listen. Listen to the sound of the engine roaring down the dirt road, his body tossing and jerking at every turn. Suddenly the truck stops. Two men exit the vehicle. Nathaniel hears the driver speak to the other in Spanish. The trunk hood lifts up revealing a tattooed Mexican Gangster. Nathaniel jerks his head back and covers his eyes as the sun's brightness pierces his vision. The Mexican Gangster puts a bag over his head, pulls him out violently, and pushes him forward.
NATHANIEL
"Where are you taking me?!"
Photo by: Cristina Gottardi on Unsplash
He hears the sound of locks and immediately stops. The doors creak open. The Gangster shoves Nathaniel inside the storage container. Nathaniel tries to resists, but he's not much of a fighter, and they quickly overpower him. They tie his hands and feet and attach him to a hook dangling from the board in the ceiling. They lift him upright where his toes barely touch the floor.
NATHANIEL
“What are you doing?! Get me the fuck dow-"
The Gangster delivers an unexpected blow to the gut. Nathaniel gags as vomit seeps through the bag.
GENTLEMAN
“There’ll be none of that.”
The Gangsters turn to face a Caucasian man waiting in the shadows speaking with a European accent.
GENTLEMAN
"Please remove the bag before he suffocates on his own vomit"
They do as they’re told. Nathaniel takes in a giant breath of air and coughs. He looks up to see the two Gangsters staring him down. The storage container smelled musty and the hot air made it hard to breath.
The man in the shadows approaches. He's clean cut and well dressed in an expensive two-piece suit.
GENTLEMAN
“I do apologize for that.”
He takes out a handkerchief and wipes Nathaniel’s mouth.
GENTLEMAN
“That’s better. I hope you weren’t handled too roughly getting here. I was very anxious to speak with you, so I apologize if this is an inconvenience.”
NATHANIEL
“Who are you?”
GENTLEMAN
"My name is not of any importance. I won’t be here long. Once we conclude our meeting, you will never see me again. So there’s no point in exchanging pleasantries.”
He removes his coat and lays it on the table, then reaches for his briefcase.
GENTLEMAN
“What is important though, is the reason for our one-on-one. There is information you have that is very valuable. I’m here to collect it.”
He pulls out a small sleek blade and places it on the table.
GENTLEMAN
“Now there are many ways of obtaining information. I prefer the less messy way, talking. I do hope you feel the same.”
He sits on the corner of the desk and taps the blade on his knee.
GENTLEMAN
“You have a major deal in place with Anuman Pradtana of Thailand, and the leader of the French Famille Unie, Astor Chappelle. I’d like to know specifics. Would you care to share?”
Nathaniel doesn’t respond. The Gentleman nods and walks around behind the desk.
GENTLEMAN
“The alternative to dialogue can be very, intense. I’m asking you to please reconsider.”
Silence again.
The Gentleman sighs, then reaches into his briefcase and pulls out a candle and a bible. He places them on the table and lights the candle. He walks around the table and kneels in front of the bible. Before bowing his head, he turns to the two Gangsters standing by. They look at each other, then awkwardly kneel.
Photo by: Colin Carey on Unsplash
The Gentleman bows his head and brings his hands up in prayer. Nathaniel looks on confused.
GENTLEMAN
“In the name of the father, the son, the holy spirit. Lord I come to you this day with bad intentions. You may shed tears for what’s about to happen, but you must understand my reason for doing so. It is not within me to change who I am, and I don’t wish to. I tell you this in truth. I don’t ask forgiveness, and I don’t ask resolution. All I ask is understanding, and if you are unwilling to grant me that, then I’ll await judgement.”
He blesses himself, rises, and turns to Nathaniel. He raises the blade to Nathaniel’s face.
GENTLEMAN
“I really don’t want to use this, but you leave me no other choice.”
Nathaniel spits in his face. The Gentleman calmly wipes it away.
GENTLEMAN
“Very well. Let’s get started.”
From outside the storage container, Nathaniel’s scream echoes through the open fields.