Page 35 of The Guardian

I nodded. “I found that the ritual takes place in a secluded ceremonial center. A cave area outside of the main part of town. In like you said, a rainforest area. Then when a massive seven-pointed star is set on fire there I will know that my family is being held somewhere close by. That means it will be time for…” I shook my head as I couldn’t say it…their deaths.

Rain nodded. “The stories about this are wild. Some journalists who went there reported that the locals swore they were seeing chaneques – or Nahuatl…which means those who inhabit dangerous places like they own the area. Stories say that they are strongly present in Mexican states like Veracruz, Tabasco, and Chiapas. They’re described as small children with old faces, pointed ears, and sometimes their feet are turned backward. Like ugly ogres. They frighten away intruders, so that the rituals can continue in peace.”

“Ha!” Henry huffed in disbelief.

Rain and I looked over at him.

Chapter Eleven: Badass Dot Com

Henry

“It is all bloody nonsense,” I commented in disgust. “It sounds like a Latino Harry Potter movie.”

Rain nodded. “Da, exactly. But these stories are spread on purpose to scare the Mexican people away. They are a very superstitious lot, so it works on most of the population there. Besides, they don’t have this every year on the same date. The sacrifices are only done on a full blood moon. Not partial or half but a full one. So it has been almost two and a half years since the last one occurred. So that explains why her family and most likely others were taken years ago. It is reported to be a well-planned-detailed service. They take people and find out their blood types. Money can get you anything, apparently. They actually hire paid nappers who grab the hostages and secure them. Then they are taken to some isolated hard to find place. They are fed well and treated almost like royalty. That is so the blood gets rich and healthy. I’m not sure the…victims are even told why they are being held. But it is the usual reason for something so sinister. Money.”

“Yeah, and it has to be a con,” I replied. “This sort of thing has been tried in the past, the blood of the young to make the old younger. A load of tosh. It’s all fake.”

Rain sighed at this and went on, “Well, there are enough rubes with little brains and plenty of green out there, I suppose? The clients pay a million dollars each for the blood of these victims who are sacrificed during the ceremony. It seems that there are enough rich but ruthless assholes who hope that it will be the fountain of youth. And that is something they will pay for at almost any price. Like just think of what they spend on plastic surgery? Then somehow this ritual blood is reputed to work for many who have paid.”

“Spasibo, Mr. Rain,” Maya thanked him. “I never knew the real details. The detective just told me that it was a cult ritual to be held on the blood moon rising.”

“It is more than just a cult. It is a business transaction. Buying a murder type of transaction.”

Maya stared at him as her eyes filled with tears.

Rain blinked rapidly at her as he seemed to realize what he just said so callously and then he glanced at me. “I am sorry…I know this must be hard.” He looked back over at Maya.

She swiped a tear away from under her eye. “I have been living with this nightmare for three years, Mr. Rain. It is not your fault that I’m upset. You are giving me the real reasons why they were taken. I never knew the blood ritual was for these rich people. I believed it was just evil and satanic.”

“Oh, do not be misled, Maya,” I said. “The devil is involved in this shite for sure.”

Rain looked at me and said, “So I will make the arrangements.”

I gave him a nod.

“Wait…” Maya spoke up. “What arrangements?”

Rain raised his hands up at me, palms out. “Khorosho, I will leave this discussion for you two. But we do not have much time left.” Turning, he went to the door and opening it, he left.

Maya turned to me to ask, “What did he mean by arrangements?”

“He will book our flight, get us a rental car and we will make the trip to Catemaco.”

Shaking her head, she repeated her earlier response to this, “No.”

I stepped closer to her and spoke as softly as I could, “Maya, how do you plan to rescue your family?” I asked her.

“I’m not stupid, Henry. I can’t do it myself. I know that. I already paid someone to do it.”

This surprised me but it probably shouldn’t as she was a resourceful, smart woman. “Who?”

“Someone in Mexico City, well a group. The detective gave me their number.”

“Very well, but we will still accompany you, nevertheless. Make sure they are reliable and can do the job. Did you give them the details about this?”

“I gave them what I knew at the time.”

“And they seemed fine with that?”