The cube

The Del Valle family, are powerful multimillionaires, who run practically all of Mexico, many fear them, others not so much, but nevertheless decide to get out of their way to stay out of their way, they have no weak enemies as they tend to disappear mysteriously. Over time they managed to create more alternate routes for their dark business and it was becoming a bit dangerous if someone, for some reason, got in their way, but this news will take time to reach Maria la Mexicana's knowledge.

Meanwhile, and without understanding why, his days were getting darker, he found himself inside a dark box and did not understand what he could have done wrong to end up there. He tried to scream for help but no one answered him, finally his screams stopped because his throat became hoarse and he no longer emitted low or high-pitched sounds. Her world was reduced to a dark cubicle, no bathroom, no light, her physiological needs were there beside her, only one plate of food a day was passed to her through a small door, but without uttering a single word, no one could speak to her. Many days passed, Maria de la Cruz had no notion of time or space, she no longer felt like living, so she decided to stop eating and drinking water, her plan was undoubtedly to remain lifeless in that place, but her wish was not possible. Finally she saw the light again after two months of captivity, a woman, Mrs. Rosa, helped her to get out of there, she was all discouraged, dirty, had a nauseating smell and was ashamed of the situation. Then she bathed, ate and stayed locked in a more dignified room, with a bathroom, and received her four meals as she deserved. After the first week she felt much better, her pale face at last acquired some color and she was in much better health.

Some well-dressed men brought her clothes for her to change and dress up, apparently she would have a visitor, and it was not up to her whether she wanted to go or not, she simply had to obey orders. Someone arrived, knocked on his door, he had to go down some stairs, there was a round table, a big armchair and in front of them a glass wall where you could see the whole city of Mexico illuminated. After a long silence, the dreaded voice finally spoke:

So you are Maria de la Cruz, a sweet and good history teacher, a real heroine. We have done some research on you, and we have seen that you have no family around you, the only thing you own are some pets, which by the way we have already taken care of, and some brats you are trying to help, and you go through life meddling in matters that are not yours, right?

- I am innocent. -said Maria.

- I'm not a cop, or anything like it, I don't care about your guilt or innocence, you're a stupid busybody, and for not controlling your fucking nose you're here today.

- At least I think I deserve an explanation, if I'm going to die, or if I'm going to live here in captivity, I think I deserve it all the same. -said Maria.

- You haven't seen anyone's face so far, have you?

- I've only seen Mrs. Rosa's face, the others are wearing masks, like you. -said Maria.

- That's right dear Maria de la Cruz, and it's to try to save your life, did you know that if you see the face of your kidnappers you must die? It is a rule of the jungle, you would not understand it, but I think you should make the great effort to understand this whole situation, if you want to live.

- I think that if you Mr. ? find out very well who I am, you should know that I have no reason not to die, so I dare to tell you that I would like to know why I am still here, and who the hell are you? And what is this criminal organization about, is it drug dealers? -said Maria for the last time.

And after uttering those words, everything went dark again for Maria de la Cruz, and when she woke up she found herself sadly back in the dark cube. At first she only had a headache, but little by little her memory came back and she remembered that someone hit her in the back of the head after insulting the possible boss of her gang, but once again she had put herself in the same hole by not closing her mouth in time, although deep down she regretted every time she got in and it caused her problems, she knew it would happen again and again, it was a gift she could not easily handle.

Like a mother who scolds her children when they don't behave well, she was punished again for two months, in exactly the same conditions, and it was not pleasant at all, losing the will to live all the time or being totally demoralized with her aces on top, once again she was washed, cleaned and attended to by Miss Rosa, who advised her that no matter what happened she should never say anything against the boss, never question anything, just shut her mouth and she should learn to listen. To Maria, the idea did not seem bad, besides it was logical that if she had not died yet it was because she had definitely gotten a new job, which she had to attend whether she wanted to or not, she herself wondered, rambling, if she would have economic remuneration at some point, she smiled alone, the madness was taking over her more and more.

- Maria, we meet again, did you have time to understand who I was?

- Yes, sir. -she answered, looking at the floor.

- Very well, I am glad you liked our care. I will be kind to you and tell you what you did, and of course you will understand why you are here (...).

The gentleman, so far mysterious, told Maria de la Cruz that the young man he had very kindly saved was Emiliano Romero. She wanted to explain to him that in reality he had died, but she remembered Rosa's valuable advice, and only limited herself to listen. He told her that this man and all his Romero family, they are from Argentina, and they were cruel beef mafiosos, there were no problems, but the story changed when he told her that this family was the cause of a cancer that they only produced in their animals, and it was because they had a chain of crooks that were part of the problem, he explained it as if he were a professor;

- animals are vaccinated with the disease, veterinarians intervene, etc. But it doesn't harm them, that is, the animals, it harms us humans. Our pharmaceutical organization produces the remedy, so we all win and this circle is closed.

- I understand sir - said Maria - but ....

- Don't interrupt me Maria, I warn you. -continued speaking the mysterious man- You see I am Mexican, lover of my country, and I warned those damn rustlers not to bring us here their rotten meat, but they decided to break that rule, and my mother mysteriously got sick of that cancer, they claim it was not them, but just in case we had to kill a member of their family, you know an eye for an eye, but this is where you and your sense of smell come into play. So not only did you save him but you gave him the opportunity to suspect us, besides, the guy who shot him had to turn up dead because Emiliano remembered him and managed to recognize him. I know you thought he was dead, that's what the family told you, but he was not. The interesting thing about the case is that we received information that this young man is looking for you, and that's where you work for us, you understand? the main idea was to kill you or sell you, but we decided to wait to see how everything evolved, and you see, you have a chance to live, isn't that good news?

I understand and I think it's good news, sir. May I ask a question?

 

- No. We're finished. Go to your room and then you will receive further instructions.

 

The meeting ended quickly after the chief's last words. Finally Maria de la Cruz went to her room and asked for a book to read and entertain herself, as she couldn't have a cell phone or anything technological to make contact with the social world, Rosa was really very kind and brought her a very interesting book by "Isabel Allende, La Isla Bajo El Mar", with this excellent literature she entertained herself for a couple of days.

 

Finally the unwanted orders arrived. After three long weeks, Maria de la Cruz, was prepared and ready to travel to Argentina, her destination would be Buenos Aires, Bella Vista, she would settle in the institute Leopoldo Marechal number forty-two; and she would live in a residence next to Emiliano Romero. The rules were as follows, he did not know her face, so her job would be to kill him, without anyone suspecting and meanwhile, she would investigate if the accounts and procedures of the organization were going well.  Then at the end of the year she would return to Mexico.