Alejandro:The story of a fall

  Alejandro: The story of a fall

Let me tell you a story about Alejandro, a young, prestigious man who had an almost perfect life until he met Madam Kiska, the best fortune teller in his hometown, New York. Everything seemed perfect until Madam Kiska saw something terrifying about the man's future and started going mental. She said unthinkable things, whispering to the spirits for help; she warned Alejandro that the spirits were angry at him for going against their will, and that grave pain was waiting for him. But nothing could prevent him from what was going to happen.

He left trying to convince himself that this grand master of fortune telling was a fraud and said nonsense, but couldn't get it out of his mind. Indeed, everything started falling apart. His business was destroyed by some debts that his workers had charged him with. His wife left him for her new boyfriend in Dubai, leaving him behind with his 3 children. 

Then, after getting hired for a job as a waiter (that he hated) for under minimum wage, he fell into a coma by a car accident. When he woke up, it was already Christmas time. Fortunately, the café he worked at, rehired him and went on working 24/7, trying hard to take care of his three children on his own.

At Christmas, his money was enough only for one small treat for the children, counting every minute for his shift to end until  Karen came in the last 30 seconds and demanded to complain to the manager. The manager had left, so he told her to come again tomorrow, but she insisted on staying; that was his final hit. He couldn't take it anymore; he quit his job, left the kids and his debts with evil aunt Morana. so, he left the town for good.

Years passed, and after what seemed like centuries, Alejandro finally found a place where he could be himself. THE FAR WEST. The only place where he felt that he was free and he could do what he truly wanted without caring about the world. He changed his name, grew a moustache and a beard, totally changed his wardrobe, and got himself a job.

His new job was working with a famous gang from the Far West. He was their best shooter and a brilliant heist planner. In the gang, he met a cool as well as talented guy- at almost everything but tying others, Roberto Carlos. They went out for beers every night; they fully trusted and respected each other. It was one of those nights they had an important talk about their future.

"Alejandro, I am tired of our bosses trying to control us, aren't you?" said Roberto.

"Yes, they are asking us too many while they do nothing", Alejandro replied.

"We should quit", he added. 

"Yeah, we should. They are nothing without us. Alone we will be the best of the best", Roberto insisted.

"Then, it's settled, my friend".

They shook hands in agreement.  Apparently, they walked away from the gang and became the best gangsters in the Far West, living the dream. Crowds feared them. They were rich and famous, having everything someone could dream of. 

But the prophecy wasn't fulfilled yet. The spirits were still angry at Alejandro. More bad luck was awaiting him. 

He was having fun with his pal Roberto. Everything seemed ok, but Roberto looked kind of out of character. It was while they were ordering a couple of beers when… a large, fierce group of gangsters attacked them. They were outnumbered, and, when Roberto tried punching his way out, they sadly shot him and left. Alejandro rushed to his friend to help him but he only got a few last words. 

"Roberto, be strong. Help is on the way", said Alejandro in tears.

"My time has come, my friend; it's too late for me", answered Roberto wisely. 

"There is nothing we can do, but you can take revenge for me. None of them should stay alive. Hunt them down for me", he whispered. 

"My friend, don't worry; it's never too late. I can help you; don't you worry, and don't waste your energy saying nonsense." 

"Alejandro, promise me, you will avenge my death", he repeated in an annoyed tone. 

"Of course, my friend, I promise that if you don't make it, none of them will. I will hunt them down one by one till they all fall for you", he  explained, but he never got a reply. 

"Goodbye, my friend", he said, with tears running down his eyes and anger flowing inside him. He wanted to take revenge full heartedly with the reassurance that for the death of his friend, many people would suffer, and no enemy would survive. 

From then on, Alejandro dedicated his life to finding clues for where the gang that killed Roberto was. He searched the pyramids, climbed the Alps, even went to the Bermuda Triangle but without any clue. After years of wandering, he finally found someone that could help him. An old stranger was at Alejandro's doorstep on a cold winter's night. 

Alejandro was shocked and decided to check what this man was doing there. The man seemed both frightened and scared, but, suddenly, rang Alejandro's doorbell. Alejandro took his courage and opened his door to the stranger. 

"Hello sir, what do you need?", he asked in an unwelcoming tone, 

"Are you Alejandro Gonzalez?", the stranger asked. 

"Indeed I am. What do you want from me?  Watch out, I'm not playing games, old man,", Alejandro replied, trying to scare him. 

"Well, this package is for you." The stranger left a small package, and without saying a word, he left in a hurry. 

Alejandro's curiosity got the best of him, and he opened the package. Inside was a gun with a bloody bullet and a note. When Alejandro saw it, tears filled his eyes. It was the same gun and bullet that was used to kill Roberto that one night. He was furious; he started yelling and screaming about how this bully dared to send him the thing that took away his joy just so they could torture him. Deep inside he was  both scared and sceptical. How did they know where he lived? Was that a threat that they were aiming at him now? Where would he go and what would he do? 

After hours of stressing himself, he thought logically and opened the note. The note read:

“Hello Alejandro, 

First of all, we mean no harm; we are here to give you information. 

Secondly, did you open our little gift? If you haven't realized it yet or are not sure, yes, that is the same gun that shot your friend down and the bullet that pierced through his heart and killed him. 

We have the information you need to find him. We can help you take revenge. For more information, meet us at our hideout in the heart of Mexico City, at 152 San Salvador Avenue.

Best regards, Las Garras del Diablo.”

As he read, his jaw dropped, and he didn't know how to react. He had mixed feelings of joy and fear. He had so many questions waiting to be answered.Who are the Garras del Diablo? What did they want from him? How did they know where he lived? Why would they help him? Where did they find the gun and bullet? Were they really trying to help him? Was it a trap? And many more things that couldn't be answered. 

Alejandro took his time to think about what his next move would be. He knew he didn't have anything to lose. He was thrilled that someone had the clues he had spent so much time searching for. He would go to them. So he decided to go prepared to fight just in case and bring some friends with him in case it was a trap.

The next day, he sailed away with his friends and their ship from Cuba to Mexico City. The sea was calm; nature was on their side. In three days' time, they reached Mexico City. Once they had rented a hideout, Alejandro told them his plan to see the true intentions of the mysterious Garras del Diablo. He would go in, and if his friends heard gunshots, they would rush inside and save him from the others. However, if the gang was friendly, they would leave immediately  so the gang wouldn’t understand that Alejandro had never trusted them.

And indeed, the next day after midnight Alejandro set off for his mission. He took a taxi there while his friends were following him from a distance. The address belonged to a small night bar. He stood at the doorstep for a few seconds and took a few breaths. He remembered everything he had been fighting for all these years and went inside grabbing a beer.

After a few moments, 2 big and strong guys went to talk to him.

"Are you Alejandro?", they asked.

"Are you the Garras del Diablo?" He asked back.

They smiled happily. "Come with us."

They took him to some kind of basement with a massive door and told him to go inside quickly. As he went through the door, he was filled with excitement. It was like an underground mafia village. He was amazed not only by the size of it but also by the capacity of deadly weapons. After a while, he focused on his target and went for information to a nearby man sharpening his sword.

"Excuse me, can I ask you something?" He said,

The man was shocked at the sight of him. "Are you Alejandro Gonzalez? Come, come with me." He said with a smile.

Alejandro followed the man to a very big, dark room. The room was pitch-black and spooky, exactly what he loved. He started noticing some masked men coming towards his direction. They all sat down around him, and one of them sat in the highest chair. Their leader!

"Welcome, Alejandro Gonzalez! We are the Garras del Diablo, and we know exactly what happened to your friend. Oh, where are my manners? Please sit down as we tell you the story of your old best friend. The leader said as the others brought a chair and some beer for Alejandro. 

He sat and said to them, "Thank you for your generosity, but if you don't mind my asking, where did you know him?"

"Well, your questions will be answered. Just listen, and we will tell you the full story of your old friend. So Roberto was raised by the greatest mafia leaders ever existed; their dynasty is now continued by us. He was born to be the best of the best. He was a pure prodigy, like an unstoppable soldier born to destroy everyone standing in his way. Everything seemed perfect until some other gangster took his fame away for evil. Now Alejandro, what would you do in his situation?" Asked the leader? 

Alejandro thought for a while and said, "Go to his gang and challenge him to a battle, and the last man standing would be the greatest."

The old man smirked and said"That's exactly what he did, but unfortunately the other gangster stepped out and asked him to be friends. Roberto knew that he had to be the best and never trusted the guy, so he kept quiet and tried for years to take the other guy's life, but he was always unlucky, and after he was devastated, he came to us and asked for a solution to his problem. Now Alejandro, what would you do if you were him?" he asked again, 

"I would run away and make him think that something had happened to me", he said unsurely. 

"Well, you are a great mind, because that is exactly what he did. Now let's head to your questions. What more do you want to learn from us? Tell us everything you want, and we will tell you." The leader said. "But first, where are my manners? Let me introduce myself. My name is Roberto Juan Carlos," said the leader as the others tied Alejandro to his chair, he stared in desperation, and he started fuming with anger while Roberto was laughinh at him. 

"I don't believe you. If it was true, then, who did I see dying?", said Alejandro.

"Just my good triplet; nobody cared about him, so we shot him dead, but don't worry, my friend; for our old friendship, no bullet will ever touch you from now on. No one will dare to shoot you. They won't be faster than us. Ha ha ha ha"said Roberto, laughing as

"What are you animals going to do with me?"

"We 'll give you the premium experience. Very few had the luck to witness torture like that. It's like your premium vacation to Mexico with lots of pain. A Painventure." Then, Roberto started describing all the things that Alejandro had to go through.

As he was talking about vicious torture techniques, Alejandro remembered one thing from when they were friends.

"Roberto, you always had that one weakness." Said Alejandro.

"How dare you! I am perfect, but what do you mean by that?" He said angrily.

"You never knew how to tie a knot," Alejandro said as he freed himself.

Alejandro had remembered that Roberto had a problem with tying knots, and that problem was passed down to him from his gang. In a moment, he grabbed a gun and started taking everyone out in a John Wick style. After 2 minutes everyone was dead except Roberto.

"Please let me live. I'll do anything. Riches, fame, everything", Roberto begged

"There is only one thing I want", Alejandro smirked.

"And what's that?", Roberto smiled sarcastically.

"I want YOU DEAD." Alejandro shot Roberto with a sense of relief.

After that Alejandro left his gang life behind and came back to his hometown in the USA. He decided to visit the source of all his problems to thank her for all those experiences that made him a better person. Madam Kiska. He fell with tears in her arms like an old friend. They chatted for a while, and Kiska said that the spirits had calmed. To celebrate it, Alejandro asked Kiska out to celebrate.

They went out on a romantic date, and after some time together, they realized that they were made for each other. 

finally, they both had their happy endings together, and nothing was to stand in their way.

Isidoros Kladias