The tragic event

Zona Norte, Tijuana, Mexico; 12th of May 2004.

It was 11 o'clock and 16 –year- old Javier Manuel was watching a Television show while his parents were inside their room. He didn't want his parents to know that he was watching the television by that time so he lowered the volume. After some time, he got so engrossed in the show that he did not notice his father come into the living room and was standing over him.

"What are you still doing by this time young man?" He asked with a stern tone.

"Nothing padre I am doing nothing." He said as he switched off the television and stood up quickly. His father then gave him a stare that could kill.

"Don't do that again boy; You have to prepare for school tomorrow and you are still awake mi hiho." He said as he dismissed him from the living room. He then went into his room and laid on his bed and was not still feeling sleepy. He heard his father turn on the television and was watching a movie. His father Alejandro Manuel who was a restaurant owner was tall, had a thick moustache and had a very thick voice that sounded like a supervillain from a movie. Javier went to his windows and started looking at the stars and while he was looking at them, he saw four men dressed in black clothes wearing masks walking towards their house. Javier then knew that something was wrong and immediately went to the sitting room to tell his father about what was happening and his dad told him to hide in his room and not make a single noise.

Immediately he went into his room to hide, there was a loud knock on the door which was accompanied by a gruff voice ordering him to open the door before they break it down.

"You will have to break the door down tonto!" He said as he pulled out his dagger ready for anything that would come to him.

"This man is daring us; Break the door down Diego!" The man with the gruff voice ordered in a very loud voice. And immediately, the men started attempting to break the door down. Javier immediately guessed that the man with the gruff voice must be the leader of the gang. After many attempts, the men broke in and as soon as they got in, Alejandro pounced on one of them and stabbed him on the shoulder and the two struggled which led to the mask worn by the man coming off. The man had a childlike face with a big nose and a scar on the left side of his face. One of the men brought out his gun and shot Alejandro on the thigh and he screamed out in pain. Immediately, his mother came out and screamed as she looked at her husband holding his bleeding thigh and ran to meet him. One of the men then dragged her away from him roughly and held her.

"Don't you dare to hurt my Carmen you hooligans!" He said with a loud voice filled with so much pain.

"Why don't you shut up and listen to what we have to tell you tonto!" The leader said with authority as he kicked him on the ribs as he groaned.

"What on hell do you want from someone like me eh?" He asked the leader as he tried to sit up. The leader then gave a little chuckle as he fondled his gun and staring at it like it was the woman he was sleeping with.

"Well, all we asking for is the four million dollars that you stole from us; You thought that you could never be caught but you are here." The man said with a wicked smile etched across his face.

"If I had four million dollars, do you think that I would be here getting attacked by you fools?" He said and immediately, one of the men gave him a slap that echoed around the house.

"Search the house immediately Gonzales and find that money quickly; You think you can play dumb with us but you are going to be sorry." He said with a threatening voice as one of the men went into the rooms to search for the money that Alejandro supposedly stole from them. The leader then started kicking and slapping him.

Javier went to hide under his bed and then the guy who was sent to find the money came into the room and started searching the wardrobe for the money and after checking and finding nothing, he then decided to look under the bed and immediately he saw him, he ordered him to come out and took him to the living room.

"I didn't find anything boss; Not even a single dime but I found this boy inside one of the rooms hiding." He said as he pushed him forward towards the leader who held him.

"So you have a son and you didn't think of your family's safety before going ahead to steal from us." He said as he laughed.

"I don't know of any money that you are saying that I stole; I swear on my life." He said with a pleading tone.

"So you are begging now eh? I thought you were a tough guy but it seems like you have finally calmed down and decided to be wise. But I will ask you again; Where is my motherfucking money you bastard?" He said as he pressed his gun to young Javier's temple.

"Please I swear that you have the wrong person sir; I have never touched that kind of money in my entire life." He said as he continued to plead with him. The leader then let go of Javier and went towards his mother who was looking very terrified and he then eyed her sensually.

"Well look at this sexy woman over here; You look too good to be used by your husband alone." He said as he played with her hair while laughing and his men laughed with him hysterically.

"Leave my wife alone you fucking idiot or else!" Alejandro screamed as he attempted to stand up but fell down helplessly to the floor. Javier then tried to run towards his mother but one of the men pushed him to the floor and pinned him. The leader then started taking off the clothes his mother was wearing while he watched and as he was about to penetrate her, his father pounced on him and started punching him on the face as he groaned and one of the men pulled out a gun and shot him on the head and Javier watched with horror as his father's brain splattered on the floor and the leader threw his body off him.

"Jesus Christ!" His mum screamed as she ran to her dead husband's body and started crying while holding him up. The leader who was evidently very annoyed at what just happened shot her three times and she fell on top of her husband dead. This was a living nightmare for Javier who started shouting at the top of his voice as tears flowed from his eyes.

"Shut up your mouth stupid boy; Your parents are dead now and you better stop crying and live with it." The leader said to him with anger in his voice. He then ordered his men to put him in the trunk of the car they came in and he was bundled into the trunk. After some time, they finally stopped in a place he didn't even know and they started contemplating on whether they should kill him or just drop him off and after a bit of argument, there was silence and he heard the trunk open up and he was pulled out and they closed it and drove away. He then tried to find his way around the area but he was met by a middle-aged man who looked hideous as hell.

"Hey amigo; You got any change on you?" He asked with a loud voice while smoking weed.

"No I don't have any change on me right now; My parents just got killed by some men and I am looking for a place to sleep." Immediately, he was slapped by the man and the slap sent pain all over his face and he fell down.

"Who the fuck do you think you are talking to boy and do you think I give a fuck about your parents dying?" He said with anger evident in his voice as he held him by the neck. Javier struggled but could not get him to let go of his throat as he gasped for air.

"Hey Francisco, why don't you let go of that little boy and go to fight your age mates you coward!" He then looked and saw a slim guy who looked like he was approaching the age of 20 and had a nice moustache approaching them. The man then loosened his grip and immediately, he kicked the man on his crotch and the guy who came to help him immediately stepped in and landed some punches on his face and broke the man's arm. The man then wobbled away in shame.

"I hope you didn't give that crazy man any money or your valuables?" He asked with concern etched across his face as he held his hand.

"I didn't have anything on me so I couldn't even give him a dime." He said to him as he gave him a bright smile despite the pain he was passing through.

"I'm Luis, I have not seen you around here; What is your name friend?" He said to him with a friendly tone in his voice.

"I am Javier and I am from Zona Norte, I got here because some men attacked my family, killed my father and mother and dropped me here. I don't even know where I am; Please can you tell me where I am right now please?" He asked in a desperate tone.

"I feel bad for you Javier, you witnessed the death of your parents at such a young age and you are here. Well you are in Colonia Independencia and we have to get away from here before the local gangs get to us and we get mugged."