Hunt Down Rose

Chapter 7: Day Break (Part V)

I started stepping on the pedal and drove like crazy while being navigated by the local. The routes in this city are mostly connected by small streets occupied by numerous buildings with lights that can illuminate the road. However, due to the catastrophe that has occurred, it’s hard for us to see where we are headed with most of the lamp posts dead or broken. If it isn’t for the information and public relations, I wouldn’t be helping them since I can always get myself back in no time and without a scratch. Grimnoir is always waiting for his chance to make a way for dead people.

After quite some time we reached a long road without any problems and continued driving.

“Thank you, my friend. My name is Jose, and this is my companion Simeon.” He said to me in relief. His friend tried to wave his hand but the hemorrhage is making him lose his senses.

“Don’t thank me yet, we’re still too far from the hospital around here.”

“Indeed. But I’m curious about what I saw earlier.”

“Curious about what?”

“You took down a lot of men out there.”

Recalling the events, I guessed he saw me dealing with them.

“Did I? Survival at its finest, I guess.”

“But it would be best for you to look for another place to stay here in Madrid much better if you would leave.”

“Why is that?”

“The city is under numerous conflicts. As you can see, it’s getting worse each day. It won’t be long before a total lockdown is declared.”

“And the government ain’t aware of it?”

“Not by the government, but by the influences that hold the city.”

“Hold eh?” I said to him looking at the road seeing a few establishments along the way with their lights visible enough. This is an interesting start to perform my investigation here in Madrid. I focused on the road for a while, making sure that we are in the right neighborhood since the place we are currently on is tight. Most of the roads are one way and a single mistake can burn a lot of time, something we don't have right now due to the wounded man.

“Are we there yet?” I asked.

“It’s that building over there.” He pointed his finger on a five floored building with guards blocking the entrance. Compared to the other establishments around it, this one looks older and rusted. I’m beginning to wonder if proper maintenance ever occurred to them or it’s for the creepy aesthetics.

“You sure this is the right place?” I better ask just to be sure. No way in hell that this is a hospital or clinic.

“Yes I am,” He replied, as we stopped in front.

I parked the car on the side and helped the wounded patient get up. Jose opened the doors and helped his companion get out of the vehicle. Of course, being the person who escorted them here I was obliged to help them further inside the entrance.

Just when we were about to enter, both guards blocked our way with their hands waiting on their backs. Hanging on their strap is a pump shotgun with several shells loaded on their belts. Jose calmly talked to these guys looking at me, as if he’s telling that I saved their lives back there, or at least that’s what I think.

In just a matter of a few seconds, they opened the large wooden door on both sides.  We entered the ground floor and there I saw a lot of people playing cards while drinking at the same time.

“A gambling Den.” I thought to myself, considering that they have their own perceptions when it comes to an ideal hospital or clinic.

Walking inside the place with Jose in charge of the directions, it’s as if we are invisible to their senses with a wounded person almost on the brink of death. They sure have a different point of view when it comes to situations like these. There’s a door on right ahead of us though I’m not sure if we should enter it right now due to the amount of security.

“Where should we put him?” I asked Jose confused about where to go in this dreadful place.

“Let him rest on that chair.” The man told me.

“By the way senior, Thank you for helping us again.” He said as we both helped his friend lean comfortably on the chair.

“No big deal. I was about to roam around the place anyway when I encountered you guys.”

Then I began to remember a few things to ask.

“Why is it that you guys came from that place? Knowing that the situation is tough, you should’ve gotten yourselves on safe locations around the city.”

Then a group of men came out of the door and saw the wounded man.

Picking him up with the help of the others, we escorted them inside and what I saw shocked me. A small medical clinic with beds and complete with all basic apparatus, not to mention they have surgical knives and a CT scan on the next room with a glass window.

We finally laid him on one of the beds as the doctor tried to check his condition before stitching him up. Leaving the place he tapped my shoulder and asked me to come outside the room for a bit of a talk. We grabbed a few drinks from the vending machine just outside the alley of the area, with the sound of gunshots mixed with fireworks just downtown.

“So this is a clinic after all,” I said to him surprised that such places exist having a CT scan ready for use.

“It’s true, though this isn’t an ordinary clinic if you would consider it.”

“So a private clinic?”

“If that’s how you call it but for us, it’s a part of our insurance.”

“Insurance? You guys are employees?”

“Y-yes somehow.” I can sense a bit of discomfort. His fists were clenched tightly after finishing those words.

“Why are you guys stranded in the first place?”

“You mean the east side of the city?”

“Yeah” From what I can perceive from his response, his hesitation is much obvious now. I cannot tell what it means nor what it hides but they definitely needed my help a while ago.

“We work for a few important people when we got sandwiched in that gang war. I thought we were dead until you arrived.”

To reassure my validity, I showed him an ID card stating that I am a private investigator. I also exchanged a few information with him about my purpose of coming to Madrid. From files that I’ve gathered in the headquarters including the small data I’ve acquired regarding the Cortez, Jose carefully cross-examined everything I’ve placed upfront. 

After several minutes’ worth of discussion, I was able to convince him. Although, most of it is a lie just to prevent false signals and to make things worse. I’m certain now that these people are connected to my target. Under the guise of personal confidentiality and honor, we both swore to each other that the information that we will share shall only be kept between the two of us.

“Were you guys supposed to meet someone?”

“Yes. But we never expected that the riot would happen. The meeting was canceled and some establishments were burned.”

“Speaking of riots, I heard a lot of things about the government being unable to hold off the militants.”

“True, though the reason lies deep within the history of the officials.”

“Why is that?”

As we sat down on the side of this dusty alley, he began to talk.

“It all started at least 15 years ago when the gun business around Europe was booming faster than what we can imagine due to the conflicts in some countries such as North Korea and the Middle East. My uncle worked for a certain man named Cortez. Gaining enough money to support everyone in his family, he worked hard to send delivery reports around the country and even export goods in France and Britain. I can still remember him giving us different kinds of things from the places he has gone to. Though the districts from Madrid weren’t actually divided politically as what we are now; instead it was made whole by the Cortez family, acting as a foundation of the businesses that were trying to stay and improve. We were once a part of that wonderful event wherein everything was a sight to see, and the tourists enjoyed the beautiful sights without blemish.”

(To Be Continued)