Chapter 4
Zorro hurried across the rough terrain, consumed by a sense of urgent haste. He was late, and he knew his father would be furious. Victoria was waiting for him to help her in the tavern. He didn't want to disappoint her. But two families also needed Zorro's assistance to save their homes from the brink of foreclosure. Zorro had managed to arrive just in time, carving his signature 'Z' into the corrupt alcalde's vest as a warning. Now, he had to make his way back to the safety of the hacienda as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, everything had taken longer than expected, with De Soto lingering at the farm, causing Zorro to lose precious time.
As the sun sank lower in the sky, Zorro glanced at the sun and realized it was close to six o'clock. He hadn't even had a chance to change for the masked ball, an event he had eagerly anticipated. He could hardly wait to see Victoria dressed in her namesake disguise, knowing she would look breathtakingly beautiful. To him, she was a goddess, the one who held his heart captive. Tonight, Victoria would shine like a beacon, her beauty unmatched. Determined to get to the tavern as quick as possible, Zorro chose the shortest route along the west side of the pueblo.
Suddenly, chaos erupted in the blink of an eye, too fast for Zorro to comprehend. Shouts filled the air, followed by the sharp crack of a gunshot. Agonizing pain seared through his left shoulder, causing him to grimace and gasp. Toronado, his loyal steed, startled and reared up as he got thrown off, landing with a dull thud on the sandy ground.
Struggling to stay conscious, Zorro fought against the encroaching darkness, desperate to maintain his awareness. His vision blurred, but he managed to catch a glimpse of the alcalde approaching, a twisted smile of triumph on his face, before everything faded to black.
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