Shifting direction to the right, he was again immersed into the blackness of the jungle. The ground became uneven — the undergrowth whipped at him while he tried to keep his balance. Then for a second he realized something had changed. The barking. He froze and listened. Silence. Had he somehow thrown the dog off scent? Maybe the guard called the Doberman back? Or was the animal searching for the spot where Skyler reentered the jungle?
The latter became instantly confirmed. With what must have been a surge of adrenalin, the sound of the dog racing into the underbrush caused Skyler to turn and start running again. His theory that the dense growth would slow the dog was immediately shot down — he was close enough that Skyler heard his heavy breathing. Shouts from the guard were lost in the darkness.
Within seconds, the Doberman was at Skyler’s heels. They were both breathing hard as they tore through the underbrush. Then came the bite — hard and vicious. The jaws latched on to his left boot at his ankle. With his next step, the ground fell away. He looked at the stars as he and the dog dropped into the void.
THE TEMPLE
Skyler floated on his back and studied the dark green canopy of the jungle fifteen meters over his head. The dawn tried to penetrate down into the ancient sacrificial well which he knew was called a cenote. The dim light revealed precious little of his prison. He could just make out the circular shape of the limestone walls, pitted and etched with age and erosion. He had managed to survive the night by climbing onto a small ledge sticking out from the wall. The dog had not been so lucky having struck the wall on the way down. It lived for only a half hour before sinking below the surface to join the bones of human and animal sacrifices from centuries before.
Ages ago, the naturally formed sinkhole accepted offerings to the gods that were believed to help bring rain, abundant crops, or victory against an enemy. Those that were tossed into its black depth never escaped — the sheer walls made sure of that. But the eons of abandonment, the cycles of flood and drought, and the unrelenting intrusion of the jungle made escape not easy, but at least possible. Thick vines and roots draped down the sides of the well in a snake-like tapestry. Combined with the pitted limestone, the plant-ropes would be Skyler’s way out. With a mighty heave, he grabbed hold of the lowest hanging vine and pulled himself out of the rancid slime. Soon, he had worked his way to the lip of the cenote and crawled over the edge onto the jungle floor.
Skyler stood and took in his surroundings. If a search party had come looking for him, there was no sign of it. During the hours he lay on the ledge in the cenote, he heard nothing that would signal they were hunting him. Perhaps they believed he had followed the road further inland. Its gradual incline must lead to the mountains he spotted when he was taken from the sub. Although the jungle surrounded him, at his feet was the slightest hint of a stone path leading away from the sinkhole. He wondered how many victims stood on the last stone at the edge of the cenote before being thrown into the blackness.
He followed the partially overgrown stone path that zigzagged through thick vegetation. The incline became more noticeable, and at one point turned into steps. Then out of the emerald gloom, a structure appeared. A two-story temple covered in green moss. Vines and roots slowly strangled the ancient building in an eternal death grip. The temple blended into its surroundings like a ghost from a lost civilization.
There were four entrances across the front all leading to a single interior space, probably where the sacrificial victims were prepped for their final journey down the stone path. As Skyler approached one of the doorways, he heard a faint whimpering — his first thought was possibly an injured animal. He moved slowly into the dark interior but could see nothing. The sound came from a far corner and increased as he took one more step inside. It became a mixture of crying and muffled attempts to speak.
As he moved further into the room, he could just make out a human form huddled in a corner — hands and feet bound, a hood covered the head. He stood over the trembling body — a woman. Reaching, he pulled the hood away.
“Sweet Jesus! Candy!”
THE CAVALRY
Skyler removed the gag from Candice’s mouth along with the ropes that bound her, and helped her to her feet. He took her into his arms.
“How did you get here?” he asked, then smothered her face with kissed.
“I thought I would never see you again, Sky.” She returned his hugs and kisses. “They kidnapped me from my photo shoot in Arizona and flew me to someplace in the mountains of Colombia, then to here.”
“Who are they?”
“His men. That drug lord. Escandoza.”
“He’s here on the island?”
“I am.”
Skyler turned to see a silhouette framed in the narrow entrance to the temple. Behind him stood a female dressed in military camouflage and six armed guards.
“Welcome to Isla de Sangre, Mr. Skyler. I am your host, Pablo Escandoza. This is my corporate consultant, Teresa Castillo and a few of my loyal soldiers.”
“What the hell’s going on here,” Skyler said. “Why did you kidnap Candice?”
Escandoza pointed a pistol at Skyler. “Ms. Stevens was to be my bait that at some point would draw you to me. I had hoped that you and I could negotiate an arrangement whereby you would work for my organization. You have proved very resourceful, and you could have been a great asset. If you had accepted my offer, then Ms. Stevens would go on taking beautiful pictures of beautiful models. That all changes now that I can no longer return to my Lake Guatavita headquarters thanks to your friend Gates and the Army Rangers.”
“First I’ve heard of it. But if anyone can bring down the house, it would be Mick.”
The drug lord laughed. “A loyal friend. Now you get to pay the price of his actions.”
“So you hold a grudge?” Skyler maneuvered Candice to stand behind him.
Escandoza swept the hair from his eyes. “Someone must be punished. I’ve lost something dear to me, now you get to lose something, too. The sacred well is about to accept two more sacrifices. First, you get to watch Ms. Stevens die. Then you go next. Only this time, you won’t be climbing out. With chains binding your ankles, you and your lady friend will join those going before you thousands of years ago. Better practice holding your breath.” Escandoza spoke a command in Spanish. The guards moved into the ancient temple and took hold of Skyler and Candice. Their hands were bound behind them, then the men pushed them out of the temple toward the path to the cenote.
As he and Candice worked their way down the stone steps, Skyler said, “You realize it’s only a matter of time before they find this island and the korium lab.”
Escandoza and Castillo walked a few steps behind them while three guards led the group and three trailed behind. One held two pair of leg irons. “They may find this place, Mr. Skyler, but they will not attack. You see, there is one thing I haven’t told you. My ace in the hole — isn’t that what you Americans like to say? It will be a big surprise for your military and your country.”