All righty! Here is the long awaited climax! Hope you have enjoyed this story!
Chapter 13 Cemetery
Zorro spurred his black stallion into a wild gallop. He leaned forward allowing for extra speed. The garrison of soldiers were not far behind. He just hoped he made it in time.
Zorro dismounted before Tornado came to a stop as he ran into the cemetery at the Mission of San Gabreal. He burst through the wooden door and rushed inside, looking for a fresh grave. He heard the thunderous hooves outside. He saw a fresh grave and was about to run to it when he realized something. Something was not right. The first riddles: paint and time. Maybe the killer was leading him back to the church? It certainly brought them to the cemetery outside the chapel.
Zorro felt the tightening in his chest pull him in different directions. If he was wrong, every second wasted would be against Anna Maria. But something still didn't feel right. He shrunk into the shadows and watched the lancers race in with shovels and run toward the grave.
Zorro nodded reluctantly and waited as the hole got deeper. One man stopped when his shovel struck wood. "Senorita Verdugo!" they called as they threw their shovels away and quickly brushed the dirt off the coffin.
"There was only one riddle. There weren't two," Zorro whispered and watched when they pulled back the lid to the coffin and found the words: Here lies Senor Zorro carved in the bottom of the coffin.
"She's not here," a soldier stated.
"Is there another grave?" Private Ortega asked.
Capitan Morales huffed half in frustration half in relief. His eyes scanned the perimeter for another grave. He squinted as his eyes paused at every shadow, searching for the outlaw. "Something isn't right," he shook his head.
Sergeant Garcia interjected, "Where is Zorro?"
Capitan Morales shook his head, "I do not know. Soldiers, look for other graves, there may be more," he breathed quietly to himself, "there was only one riddle. Is this the end? The closing of one giant riddle?"
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Zorro entered the sanctuary from a side entrance. He stopped at the back of the chaple. Every muscle in his body tensed with anger and his eyes squinted with rage as he walked up the aisle.
Sitting on the ledge between the pews and the altar was Padre Ernesto, not in his priestly robes and a smirk on his face. "Well, you finally came out of your hole. I am surprised you are still alive," he frowned then shrugged, "Well, not too surprised."
"Where is she?" he growled.
The priest shrugged, "Around."
Zorro venomously unsheathed his sword.
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Capitan Morales watched mindlessly as his soldiers were digging another grave. He looked up at the bell tower, "Possibly?" he whispered. He knew that paint and time did not fit into the grand puzzle. "I wonder," he left his men.
"Commandante?" Sergeant Garcia looked after him but stayed with his men as they continued to search for fresh graves.
Morales opened the door to the south entrance of the bell tower. He ascended the stairs and when he reached the top, he found Anna Maria bound and gagged in a chair half dangling off the side. "Senorita? Senorita Verdugo, it is Capitan Morales," he took a step forward and tripped over a piece of twine and the bell rang loudly. He caught himself but grew instantly alarmed when the rope holding the chair lit on fire. "No," he rushed to the senorita and grabbed the back of the chair just as the rope snapped.
He heard a faint whimper as he quickly pulled her back. "Senorita, you are safe. I'm going to untie you," he quickly untied the restraints then undid the bandana around her mouth. He came around front to help her up, but stopped. Her eyes were distant, her body stiff and her limbs trembling. He squatted in front of her, "You know, it is okay to cry," he said soothingly. He watched her eyes well up, but she quickly shut her eyes tight. "Come here," he took her hands and pulled her into his arms. In an instant, he felt her body shake violently and a cry escaped her lips. He let her cry.
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"This is where it all started. Full circle, wouldn't you say?"
"Where is she?"
The man stood, no weapons in his hands, "Did you like the coffin? A little bonus riddle. When I kill you, they can easily bury you in it. I provided a nice inscription."
Zorro tensed.
"Oh, did you think I buried the Senorita alive? I'm not that cruel."
"Why are you doing this?!"
"I made it my mission to learn everything I could about you, I planned for years. And the Verdugos were part of that plan. I knew of your little triste with the Senorita and used them to my advantage. With applied cosmetics, I became an elder buyer of Don Gregorio's prized cattle, luring them to Los Angeles, postponing my arrival to make them stay longer so I could carry out my plan. Anna Maria Verdugo. She is my finale. The last failure of Senor Zorro. Watching the look on your face as you see the one person you cared the most for – dead. And there is nothing you can do about it," he stopped when he heard the bell ring, "And I am about to get that look."
Zorro's eyes widened and he felt his muscles ache with fear. He stumbled and he tried to catch his breath as his limbs trembled with the thought.
The false padre smiled with satisfaction, "I have to say, I couldn't have dreamed of a better look on your face. It is most gratifying," he watched as the man in black ran down the aisle like a scared little Fox.
Just then the door to the bell tower opened and Capitan Morales was ushering Anna Maria into the sanctuary.
"Anna Maria," Zorro rushed to her. He could not have felt more relief. He instantly pulled her into his arms.
"She is fine, just in shock," Capitan Morales reassured the outlaw. He glanced up at the front, "Where did he go?"
Zorro turned and saw the man was gone. The fact that the man had disappeared churned the fear in his chest. They had to be ready for anything. "Come on, let's get out of here," he had to get her to safety. They exited chapel and went across the road to the group of horses.
"Was that who I thought it was?" Capitan Morales questioned, "Was that Padre Ernesto?"
Zorro nodded, "Obviously, he isn't a real priest. You better have your men search for Padre Felipe."
The Commandante nodded, "Si. I'll have one take her to Doctor Avilla. She doesn't appear to be hurt," he looked down at the young woman, "You are very brave, Senorita. We will catch him," he headed toward the cemetery to give out new orders to his men.
Zorro looked down at Anna Maria and lifted her chin, "Are you sure you are all right?"
Anna Maria looked into his eyes then nodded slightly, still trembling, "Si. Never thought I'd be so happy to be on the ground."
He took her hands in his and squeezed them tightly, "I would have never have forgiven myself if something happened to you. I need to talk to you, after all this is over."
"That is if you survive, of course," they both turned at the third voice.
Zorro felt trembling in his chest and he exhaled to subside his fear. He unsheathed his sword and stood in front of Anna Maria.
The man was a shadowy figure in the moonlight across the road, just like in the warehouse; when he beat Zorro half to death. "Do you really think I am going to go that easily? You know what happened last time, well I got the better end of the deal," he gestured to Zorro.
"You've had your fun, you've played your game, it's over now."
"The game isn't over until you are dead. Last time was an overture. Now onto the finale!"
Anna Maria charged out from behind the man in black, "Why? Why are you doing this?!"
"His father was Carlos Galindo, a previous magistrate of Los Angeles," Zorro explained, "he blames me for his death. The one person he cared so much for – dead," the man in black surmised.
"You are half right, Galindo was my uncle, but he was like a father to me. We corresponded many times during his stay here in Los Angeles; mostly about the prospect of him making a difference here," a fiery glint lit on his face. It was quick, but showed his uncontrollable state of mind. "But, there was one thing that stood in his way: El Zorro. He wrote me of your treachery. How you constantly ruined every plan he made. He hated you. You messed up everything he worked so hard for—"
"Treason. Your uncle sold out his country."
The nephew paused for a moment, it looked like it was difficult for him to reign in his anger. He grew a twisted smile, "Those two convicts? They also failed my uncle. I made sure they knew exactly what they deserved and what their purpose was before I – used them to carry out my little game."
"Murder."
"My uncle and I loved riddles. Constantly sent them back and forth. It was our way of connecting. I thought it befitting to include you in on our little game. You are intelligent, I will give you that. But with my riddles, I was able to make you feel hopeless, helpless, I wanted to see you fail, feel the guilt and pain of failing your precious people."
Zorro shook his head, "It was your uncle who failed. He failed this city with his corrupt thinking. He failed California."
"NO! IT WAS YOU! YOU FAILED! YOU KILLED HIM! AND I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" The man screamed as he charged for the man in black.
Zorro pushed Anna Maria back forcefully as he went to attack his opponent.
The false priest pulled out his hook-blade and swung it at Zorro. The fox ducked, untied his cape and used it as a tool as he threw it on the man's head. The hook-blade dropped and he stumbled as he fumbled to remove the cape. Zorro whistled and his trusty stallion came barreling up to him. Zorro unhooked his whip from the side of the saddle and let it unravel to the ground.
He saw the hook-blade on the ground and it brought back so much pain, every cut on his body burned from the memory of the blade's touch. He shuttered a breath, almost bending under the terror of the blade.
Suddenly, the comforting words that Padre Felipe had told him came to his mind: do not manage your fear, you have to overcome it. All this time, he had been managing his fear, but now he needed to find the strength to conquer it. He admitted to himself he was terrified. That hook-blade scared him, the thought of losing Anna Maria terrified him, the thought of not defeating this serial killer petrified him.
He didn't know how he did it, but he let the fear envelope him and it almost overwhelmed him and he took a step back. Then the clear words of the padre came again. He had to overcome his fear. He began to feel his fear turn to adrenaline and then turn to anger.
Capitan Morales and his troops came on the scene with Padre Felipe rubbing his bruised wrists. Morales saw Anna Maria witnessing in horror the scene before them. "What is going on?"
"A fight to the death," Anna Maria's voice trembled.
"Are you all right, my Child?" Padre Felipe asked the young woman.
"Yes, I am fine. Did he hurt you, Padre?"
"Just a bump on the head. I cannot believe he was our killer. You are right, my Child. This is a fight with only one outcome. Even his name, Ernesto: battle to the death."
They all turned to the combat beginning.
Ernesto had thrown the cape to the ground and both men circled each other: one with the hook-blade, the other with his whip. Zorro now had an even match, his own defense.
Every time Ernesto tried to swing the hook, Zorro brought down his whip and it deflected the blade. A few times the nephew had to dodge the leather strap's advance. He growled then threw the chain toward the masked avenger.
Dropping his whip for a moment, Zorro quickly grasped the chain with both hands and pulled. As he expected, Ernesto would not readily give up his weapon. With all his might, Zorro yanked the man toward him, raised his legs and planted his feet on the man's chest. Rolling backwards on his shoulders, Zorro used the man's own momentum to hurl him over top of him, causing him to crash to the ground and the hook-blade to land at Capitan Morales' feet.
Both men stood quickly and the nephew screamed as he ran toward his opponent. Zorro defended his face with his arms as the man repeatedly kicked upwards with lightning speed. Zorro disrupted the man's momentum by pushing his leg forcefully then kicked him in the back, propelling Ernesto away from him.
The man attacked again with some fancy footwork that Zorro sidestepped and outmaneuvered. The man attempted to kick Zorro in the knee, but Zorro blocked it with his own foot. The man went to punch him and Zorro caught the fist, twirled in, and punched back with his elbow smashing the man's face, then stomped on his foot.
They separated quickly and paused for a moment. Hiding his exhaustion and agony, Zorro cracked his trademark smile which infuriated his opponent. Ernesto growled.
"I have never seen any fighting like that before?" Sergeant Garcia breathed aloud.
Capitan Morales nodded, "And just how does Zorro know how to fight the same?"
Ernesto went in for another punch, but Zorro caught the fist, twisted the arm behind Ernesto then shoved him forward. The look on the adversaries face was that of confusion. How did this Fox know how to block his advances? Ernesto grinned as he pulled out a curved blade and attacked his opponent.
Zorro jumped back, then leaned backward at another advance. He pulled out his own blade and both circled again, the fighting closing in. They dodged each other's attacks, then both were locked when each grabbed the other's wrists. Their arms were shaking from the intensity of each other's strength. They let go and Ernesto smacked Zorro's blade from his hand. He advanced and Zorro caught his wrist. Again, frozen in opposition. The blade slowly lowered as they struggled for ownership.
Anna Maria was trembling fearfully as she saw both men freeze. It was clear someone had been stabbed, but who? Her heart beat rapidly as she tried to see in the pale moonlight. Her heart melted, tears rolled down her cheeks, and her body heaved a sigh when she watched the serial killer fall to the ground with the hilt of the blade protruding from his abdomen.
Zorro stood still for a moment. His shoulders drooped. Everyone watched him tilter back and forth and Capitan Morales took a step forward to help him but Anna Maria beat him to it. She wrapped his arm around her shoulders and wrapped her own around his torso. He was breathing rapidly from exhaustion and was heated from the intensity.
"Garcia, gather the young man and take it back to the cuartel. Tomorrow we will announce that the serial killer has been taken care of," Capitan Morales informed.
Garcia nodded and motioned for a few soldiers to follow him and collect the body.
Morales and Padre Felipe approached the weary hero, "Are you all right, Senor Zorro?" The padre asked.
Zorro nodded slowly, "All in a day's work," he half-joked.
"Do you ever quit?" Morales shook his head. "You look like you need some medical attention."
"I'll be fine," Zorro looked down at Anna Maria as he removed his arm from around her shoulders, "thank you," on cue, Tornado materialized out of the night and approached his master. Zorro grabbed the horn on his saddle and attempted to pull himself up. He failed. He tried again and felt someone grab his arm and hoist him up into the saddle. He turned and saw the Commandante. "For a moment, I thought you were arresting me," he smiled.
"Not today," Morales took a few steps back. "One question, how did you learn to fight like that?"
Zorro grinned, "Did some reading," he then turned to Anna Maria and nodded.
Morales could not tell if the outlaw was joking or not. But if he was telling the truth, Zorro truly was intelligent to have learned from just reading books.
"Will Los Angeles ever see you again?" Morales asked, slyly.
Zorro turned his stallion to face him, "I'll be around if you ever need me, or if the people ever need me," he saluted then kicked Tornado into a fast run.
"Remarkable man," Padre Felipe grinned as he waved.
Morales turned to the young woman, "Come, let's reunite you with your father. He must be worried sick," he took her arm and guided her toward his horse.
I hope you enjoyed it! There is one more chapter to wrap a few more loose ends! Please be kind in the reviews! Again this is my first try at doing this so I hope it was enjoyable! I was super nervous to post it! Thanks again for all your support and reviews :)