THE REVENGE OF MIGUEL BAIN

by Susan J.

Miguel knew better than to run outside to meet CC, so instead he opened the front door and watched her from the window. CC stumbled and fell to the ground. Miguel stopped himself from going to her. He looked at her.

"Come on baby, get up!" he said.

She got up and ran inside; once she was in, Miguel slammed the door behind her shut. He held her tightly in his arms, he felt her legs buckling and he helped her to the couch. They sat down.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine. Rath isn't too far behind," she said.

"How long?"

"I'd say twenty minutes or less. Oh Miguel he's pissed, I mean he's really pissed."

Miguel smiled.

"Did he hurt you?"

"No, not really."

"Not really?"

"Well, he slapped me but that was it. I cut him though."

"Where?"

"It happened so fast. I think it was the left side if his face. Miguel…."

"Yeah?"

"What the hell was the cat doing out there?"

"Damn cat! I tried to give it a bowl of milk and she ran away."

"Thank goodness for that! She just might have saved my life."

"How?"

"Well I always carry a knife in my boot and I had to get to it, so I told Rath that I had to go to the bathroom. While I was behind a bush I took out the knife and prepared myself to cut him somewhere this way I would have the chance to escape. As he got closer to me to clean the blood from the corner of my mouth the cat came flying out and attacked him. That's when I took off."

Miguel started laughing.

"I wish I could have seen his little cat dance," Miguel said.

"I've never been so scared in my life! If you could have seen the look in his eyes you would have crapped in your pants."

He gently touched her face.

"The main thing is that you're okay," he said.

"I'm fine."

Miguel was just about to kiss her when they heard a noise outside. He jumped up from the couch and went to the window. Rath was standing in front of the cabin, his shirt was torn and the cut on his face was still bleed a little.

"Miguelito! I know you're in there you son of a bitch!! Come on out and let's finish the game!" Rath yelled.

CC went over to Miguel, who was looking at Rath through the window.

"Look at him, he's crazy," Miguel said.

"Yes I know. You have that effect on people," she smiled.

"Bain you motherfucker! Come out now!!" Rath screamed.

Miguel looked at CC.

"It's time," he said.

"Please be careful Miguel."

"I will."

He kissed her as if it would be the last time - and perhaps it would. Miguel opened the front door but then went out the back door. Rath stared at the open door.

"Come on Miguelito! I'm waiting," Rath yelled.

Miguel came around the side of the house. He saw Rath looking at the front door.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk. Look at yourself Anticuado. You look like shit!" Miguel said.

Rath turned to the left to see Miguel standing there. They pointed their guns at each other.

"Remember me? Bain, Miguel Bain."

Miguel saluted him like he did that night in the cab when they first met.

"You and your bitch left me for dead in that broken down hotel remember? But look at me Bobby. I'm still here! I'm still alive!"

"That's what I came to correct," Rath said.

"Oh really?"

"You and your pilot bitch killed Electra!"

"No, no we didn't. She killed herself. She wasn't a very safe driver. Too bad she didn't have nine lives, like that damn cat."

"Why Miguelito? Why?"

Miguel laughed. "You know the answer to that Bobby."

Miguel and Rath's eyes were constantly locked in a ruthless stare. Miguel moved closer to Rath and neither one of them lost the aim their guns had on each other.

"What's the matter Joseph…I mean Bobby. Are you a little nervous?"

Rath's stared turned into a look of surprise.

"What? Oh you thought no one knew your real name. Well that goes to show you that you must be sure that the person that you shot is dead - and you didn't do that, did you Anticuado. You were too busy thinking of Anna…I mean Electra to think of anything else."

"She was the best thing that happened to me in a long time and you killed her!"

"I already told you I didn't. Why keep talking about her, the woman is history, just like you'll be."

"I don't think so, Miguelito. Remember You're still number two."

Rath shot at Miguel, who dove out of the way. When Miguel shot back, Rath ran behind a tree. The gunfire rang out. CC covered her ears as she fell to the floor of the cabin.

"Miguel be careful," she said to herself.

"You missed me, Bobby! Why don't you put your glasses on so you can see me better!"

Miguel ran into the forest with Rath right behind him. He knew that only one of them would come back alive. Miguel tripped over a branch on the ground and he went tumbling down a small hill. He heard Rath's footsteps.

"Where are you Miguelito? Why are you running? I thought you wanted to play," Rath said.

Miguel started climbing back up the hill when Rath turned and saw him.

"Well, well look what I found," Rath chuckled.

Rath aimed his gun at Miguel.

"Pull the trigger Bobby, if you can," Miguel said.

"If I can? I know I can."

Rath shot at Miguel but he rolled to the right and out of the way. Miguel then shot back, hitting Rath in the shoulder. Rath fell backwards, giving enough time for Miguel to finish the climb up the hill. By the time Miguel reached the top, Rath was nowhere in sight.

"Bobby, where are you Bobby? I thought you wanted to play."

Rath was behind a tree trying to stop the bleeding in his shoulder.

"I bet you're not even upset about your little bitch dying, are you?! I bet you're upset because you know you're too old for this kind of work! Am I right, Bobby?!"

A shot rang out, hitting Miguel in the leg. He fell to the ground.

"Does that answer your question Miguelito!"

"Puto! Your ass is mine!"

Miguel made it to the safety of a tree.

"Come on Bobby! Like you said, let's finish the game!"

Miguel got up and prepared himself for the final move. Rath looked at his hand shake slightly. He knew Miguel was right, he was too old for this sort of life. All he wanted to do now was to kill Miguel and try to put his life back together. Rath remembered the good times he had with Electra, but now that was all gone. He was now fighting for his life. It's as if Miguel and Rath read each others' minds because they both stepped from behind the tree that was protecting them and out into the open. Their eyes met once again and their guns were pointed at each other.

"It's time to finish the game Miguelito," Rath said.

"Yes it is."

Once again the shots rang out and when the smoke cleared Miguel was on the ground. Rath walked over to him and saw that Miguel was shot in the shoulder. Rath aimed his gun at Miguel.

"This is where I say 'CHECK'," Rath chuckled.

"And this is where I say 'CHECK MATE'."

Miguel fired several shots into Rath's chest. Rath fell to the ground, his gun fell from his hand and landed about five feet from him. Miguel got up and limped to where Rath was. They looked into each others eyes.

"Take a good look into my eyes Miguelito, because you'll remember them the rest of your life."

"Take a good look at my eyes anticuado, because they're going to be the last thing you'll ever see."

Miguel aimed his gun at Rath's head.

"Come on Miguelito, pull the trigger or haven't you got the balls for it."

Miguel started laughing.

"Oh Bobby, Bobby, Bobby. You and your chit chat."

Miguel bent down far enough to almost be nose to nose with Rath.

"Remember one thing on your way to meet your little bitch," Miguel said.

"What?"

"That now I AM NUMBER ONE!"

With those words and a bullet to the head the life of Robert Rath came to an end. Miguel buried Rath's body where no one would find it. Miguel breathed in deeply and exhaled. He then heard a sound to the left of him, he turned to see Pearl walking towards him. When she reached Miguel's leg she rubbed herself against him. He bent down and picked her up.

"Well hello kitty cat."

She purred.

"Let's get out of here."

CC was on the edge. She didn't know what was happening or what had happened. Was Rath dead? Was Miguel dead? Cyber walked over to her and she smiled a little as she scratched his head.

"I know Cyber. I'm worried too."

CC heard something outside but was afraid to look thinking that it might be Rath coming to kill her.

"Honey, I'm home."

She looked out the window to see Miguel standing there holding Pearl. She ran out to greet him.

"Miguel!!"

She hugged him.

"Ay! Ay!" Miguel said.

She pulled back to see his bleeding wounds.

"Oh shit, not again Miguel?! How bad is it this time?"

"Not too bad. It's just….."

"Just what?"

"We'll have to play doctor again," he smiled.

"With you sweetie, it's never playing."

"Look what found me out there."

CC scratched Pearl on the head.

"Well hello kitty. Is Rath….?"

"Yes. Como un clavo."

"What?"

"Like a door nail."

"Come on both of you. Let's go inside. "