Chapter 23

"Gracias a dios. You managed to find me. Here, I will take Milagros off of your hands. But what will you do?" Sister Romina stands at the entrance to the church to receive us. I am not quite certain how she knew we were on our way. I will have to ask at a later time.

"What will I do? Help, of course."

{Ready Alvaro!}

{Ready for what?}

{Let's go!}. Her mental yell to action was as loud as if I had heard the real thing.

Huehue leaps into action as we leave the church entrance. She runs and dives through the marketplace. Vendors scatter as she pulls out a small blade. I look and notice that it is tied to a sash. She whips it around her body as she runs for the man with the guns. I say guns because he is using several muskets and pistols to cause damage. The man looks in our direction and fires. Huehue is hit but not before she lashes out with her makeshift whip. Huehue continues moving forward as the momentum takes her above and over the. Commandante's goon.

The blade slashes at the man's hands, forcing him to drop his weapon. As she lands, she sends a quick kick to the man's legs. He falls to the ground. She dashes over to him and lands another concrete punch to the face. The man is out cold in seconds.

{Huehue you are bleeding. I can feel it.}

{Yes…I am. I've never been hit with that type of weapon in all my years. Mostly blunt and stabbing weapons. The occasional rope burns as well.}

Miraculously, the wound heals itself.

{Quick, Huehue. Tie him down.}

"Shoot that bandit!" The Commandante screams at his men. They simply follow his command and shoot in our direction without question.

{Get out of there, Huehue.}. And before I finish relaying the thought, Huehue is running through the Mercado on all four limbs.

{Try to dodge the fire and lead them away from the bystanders if you can. We don't want anyone to get hurt.}

{On it, Alvaro.}

And in a mad dash, Huehue leaps and runs and dives through the Mercado. She leads the soldiers on a wild chase. She disappears behind a few buildings.

{Now retrace your steps if you can…}

{No problem.}

She doesn't even stop for air. She runs behind buildings in the opposite direction just as the soldiers are upon her.

{And just like that!}

In another puff of smoke, she transforms into her previous look and attire.

{Smart, Huehue, very smart.}

{I prefer clever.}

{Better to outsmart your pursuers than to fight them.}

{Don't think too much of it. I could take them all on. Unfortunately, there are too many innocents as you said. And my priority is Milagros…and you too.}

She runs alongside the other vendors and shoppers. She escapes from the random violence in the streets.

{I'll have to pick up Milagros when the turmoil dies down.}

{I understand. And Huehue?}

{Yes?}

{Thank you.}

….