Downpour(III:7) The Great Escape

Second to last chapter of Downpour :)

7. The Great Escape

     They left James’s house only saying a five second goodbye to James’s cousins, who didn’t seem to mind much that he was leaving. They just looked up, gave a quick nod, and then returned to playing their poker game.

     “I think they were mostly being nice. They all spoke Spanish, and I haven’t been able to learn a word of it. For the most part, I was just copying whatever they did to play games.” James seemed far off for a second, and then returned. “But really nice guys overall.”

     They stepped out into the stale, dead, air, and looked out at an entire city of mausoleums. Some looked as though their inhabitants had tried to make them more homey, like James, but others just retained the same form they had in life. Cracked and crumbling, the stone houses spread out until they hit the walls of the large city Nick and Lopsang had come from.

     “We’re in luck again. That’s the city we came from,” he said, pointing at the large mass of stone buildings. “If we can get back over there, I think we can find the exit again.”

     “How did you find me?” asked James looking out over the field of stone.

     “We had some help. We met up with one of the record keepers here. He was able to get us a portal straight to you.” Saying it aloud, Nick felt that it was all too easy.

     James suddenly looked worried. “You used one of the record keeper’s portals?” His eyes were wide with fear, and he kept looking up at the blackened sky above them.

     “Yes, it took us right to you.” Nick stopped walking. “Why? What’s the matter?”

     James shook visibly. “We need to move quickly. If you used a marked method of transport, like a portal, she’s going to know you did it.”

     “Relax,” said Nick, trying to feign some sort of calm. He too had to resist the urge to look at the swirling sky above them, for fear that the goddess of the dead might drop out at any moment. “The record keeper told us that she was very busy.”

     “Yes, she is,” said James, trying to stay his shaking hands, “but he is not.”

As James said ‘he’, Nick swore he felt a strong breeze blow between the graves. There was a loud moan, and Nick’s spine went cold for a moment. It quickly passed though when he realized it was just James lamenting their situation. “Snap out of it James. We didn’t come all this way and nearly die to lose you right on the threshold of escape. Now, if Mickey’s coming after us, we’ll need to get moving.” He started out on a cobblestone path that wound through the graves and back toward the city.

“It doesn’t look that far,” said Lopsang. “Why were you sent here?” he asked James, trying to make conversation as they went.

James was clutching at his stomach, presumably trying to keep himself together. He seemed glad for the distraction. “Well, that’s actually how I met him in the first place.”

“Mickey?” asked Nick.

“I don’t know why you call him that, but sure, Mickey.”

“It’s far easier to say than Miclantecuhtli,” Nick was cut off as James slapped a hand over his mouth.

     “Whatever you do, don’t say his name.”

Nick wanted to laugh at him, but could tell he was being very serious. “Sorry, we’ll stick to Mickey then.” They continued walking.

“Anyways, when I died, I was left in a confused state. Almost instantaneously, I was dragged across the world from the top of that mountain and to the Temple of the Dead. Axolotl wasn’t sure what to do with me, and initially wanted to throw me into the challenges with the others. Luckily, he saw my battle wounds as he did so, and asked if I was a warrior.” James tried to swell up with pride, but quickly had to clap a hand to his stomach once more.

“Anyways, long story short, when I stepped through his portal, there was no grave to send me to. My family does not have a plot in this world as they were all born in the United States. Instead, I went right before,” he paused as if saying it brought him great difficulty, “Mickey, and the goddess of the underworld.” He looked up at the sky, expectantly, but nothing happened.

“They questioned me for days. For the longest time, I couldn’t figure it out either, but then I remembered. I wasn’t born in the United States,”

“You were born in an airport in Peru,” said Nick, proud that they had figured out something that had taken James a while.

“Yes, how did you find that out? I didn’t even know.”

“I can be very persuasive when I need to be,” said Nick, cracking his knuckles.

“He bribed a few hospital attendants,” said Lopsang, airily.

Nick scowled. Lopsang had the uncanny ability of ruining stories and making Nick seem like a simpleton when he wanted to.

“That sounds more like it,” said James. “Anyways, after days of arguing, they figured it out to. She’s very smart,” he trailed off, “Mickey, not so much. He’s very aggressive, and intimidating, but not smart.”

This gave Nick some heart. If they were going to be chased out of the Land of the Dead, he would much rather have it be by a simpleton than a goddess with cunning. The strong always had their weak points. One simply had to know where to look.

“So they tossed me out here. These are the mausoleums of those who were not so well off in life. That’s why their graves look like this.” He motioned to a particularly shabby looking mausoleum that appeared to be on the verge of collapse. Sitting just inside the threshold was an old skeleton rocking back and forth, covered only by a thin veil of burnt flesh.

“I was put in with a random family like so many of the other lost souls, and there you have it. I’ve been out here for the past year.”

Nick whistled, acknowledging the hardship James had been through. “And to think we were worried that you would be at peace,” he said with a chuckle.

“Far from it,” said James a little bitterly. “Do you know how hard it is to make friends with your guts constantly spilling all over the place?” He looked down at his own stomach.

Nick grimaced at the mere thought of what had happened in James’s house.

“Exactly, you already know me and it would be difficult. This better get fixed on our way out.”

“Don’t worry, passing through the gate heals you of all injuries sustained in the afterlife,” said Nick. He wasn’t sure that any such thing was going to happen, but it seemed logical. How was one supposed to leave with their head chopped off. The answer was simple, people were not supposed to leave, but he ignored this fact, and tried to stay positive about the matter.

They walked up to a familiar crossroads, and Nick saw the trail leading up the side of the hill and to the cave they had entered from. “Alright, almost there, and no sign of Mickey so far.”

“Don’t Jinx it,” hissed Lopsang, who did not seem to share in Nick’s optimism.

“We’ve made it this far on luck. Let’s see if we can’t get a little bit further,” said Nick, with his false air of hope once more. Here comes the hard part. They began walking back up the hill. Nick felt the familiar feeling of exhaustion begin to pervade his limbs, but pushed through it, knowing that he was so close to the end. What they would do when they got out of the temple, he really wasn’t sure, but getting out was the first thing on his mind.

“What are we going to do to get past Axolotl on the way out?” asked Lopsang, sounding mildly worried. “I don’t think he’s going to go for the sun god bit twice.”

“You heard Gabriel,” said Nick, as if the answer was obvious. “All we have to do is get him to chase his own tail. God he might be, but really he’s nothing more than a dog at heart.” The explanation seemed thin even as he said it, but he was going to cling to whatever semblance of hope he could in order to keep them moving forward.

“I don’t exactly think the sarcastic word of a bookkeeper is enough to go on,” said Lopsang, an edge creeping into his voice.

     Nick supposed it was the first time in a while he had come to grips with anything close to mortality. Being in the Land of the Dead made it easier to trap him. Up above, no mortal objects could hurt Lopsang, but down below, they were surrounded on all sides by the immortal. “Unless you’ve got any better ideas, or a way to get the Book of the Dead back, I guess we’re going to have to wing it.”

     As he said it, Nick unslung the bag he had been carrying, and unzipped it. “Let’s see what our old pal the vampire gave us.”

     “You met another vampire?” asked James, surprised. “In the Amazon?”

     “Yes, in El Dorado believe it or not.”

     James looked at him stunned, but Nick chose not to elaborate. Instead he looked through the bag at the various implements of death they had been given. The crosses, grenades, rifles, and holy water all seemed useless in the Land of the Dead.

     “You think Xolotl likes holy water?” asked Nick, half sarcastically.

     “None of the usual tricks work down here,” said James. “I’ve never seen any of them tried myself, but I’ve heard stories.”

     The answer was all Nick needed. He pulled out one of the rifles, a couple of holy-water-filled silver bullets and zipped the bag back up. “Well, we can at least distract him with a couple of loud noises.”

     The ground leveled out before them, and they were back at the mouth of the tunnel which led toward the exit. “When in doubt, shoot it,” said James. “Glad to see nothing has changed.” He said it in jest and removed a hand from his stomach to clap Nick on the back. “Let’s go on then.”

     Nick nodded, and pressed a button that caused the rifle to expand. When finished, it reached nearly down to his toes. As they walked into the cave, he began to load the holy water bullets in, one by one. The soft click of them entering the rifle’s chamber was all that could be heard in the dank tunnel. They walked in silence, no longer wanting to discuss the prospects of what was to come, and instead, wishing to face them at last.

     Nick loaded the last bullet into the rifle and steadied his hands. Keep cool. You’ve gotten past him once, and now you know his secret. Nick clung to Xolotl’s dog-like nature like a crutch, hoping that in some way it would be the key to defeating him. The prospect was doubtful, but also all that would keep him going.

     Finally, after what seemed all too long, they reached the doorway they had come in from. When they saw it initially, it was just a massive stone slab, blocking their way, but as they moved forward, it changed. As if expecting them, the stone slab lifted, revealing the same shimmering green light they had stepped in through.

     “The door opened, that’s a start,” said James, positively.

     Nick had a much darker feeling about it. We’re expected, he thought, and rested his finger on the gun’s trigger, hiding behind the false security it provided. With confidence that he did not feel, he stepped forward to the green light, and walked through it. He closed his eyes to the momentary dizzying sensation as he traveled through the portal, and then opened them to the Xolotl’s dimly lit chamber.

     In one corner, the dog stood, holding a torch, and kneeling, head bent in what looked like reverent prayer. Nick thought he saw Xolotl’s eye flick to them momentarily, but then convinced himself that it was just a trick of the light. Long shadows hung across the walls, making Nick uneasy.

     Lopsang and James followed. What was a queit room was quickly broken as James yelled, “Look at that, they fixed me.” He removed his parka immediately, feeling at the smooth skin of his abdomen, healed at last. It only took a moment for him to notice Xolotl, and the next time he spoke, it was more quietly. “Does he still think we’re gods?”

     The question echoed off the chamber walls and was met by a deep snigger. “No, he does not, but he knows that I am,” said a voice from the darkness.

     Xolotl shifted, moving his torch forward, and revealing a large figure sitting on the stone steps, shrouded in a black cloak.

     “As for your healing, you have me to thank. I wanted this to be a fair fight.” The figure removed his hood and revealed a massive skull, bearing pointed teeth, and eyes burning with flames. “I am Miclantecuhtli, but I’ve heard that you’ve taken to calling me Micky…”