CHAPTER 6: The Return

Detective Luis Gomez of the Policía Estatal de Yucatán (Yucatan Police Department) sat behind his mahogany desk staring at the young man in front of him.

Gomez was in his late thirties. Having served in the Mexican Fuerzas Especiales (Special Forces), he received rigorous training in counter-terrorism, unconventional warfare, and direct action missions.

His boss, the Chief of Police, had taken some weeks of sick leave, leaving him temporarily in charge of the police station.

After listening attentively to the young man’s story, he still wasn’t very convinced.

‘’You mean you just wandered into the jungle on your own without any idea about where you were going?’’

‘’Yes, detective. I had always wanted to explore the dense tropical vegetation. But somehow I lost my sense of direction.’’

‘’Hmm... Gomez nodded as he lighted a cigarette, his legs on the desk.’’

‘’So how did you find your way back?’’

‘’Well, I got lucky.’’

‘’Lucky huh? Perhaps you’ll care to explain why your bag was found near the ruins of the temple, with shoe marks belonging to at least three different people printed on the dusty floor.’’

‘’I left my bag at the base of the pyramid. Perhaps some other student took it along.’’

‘’Indeed,’’ Gomez grunted, sounding bored.

‘’What’s important is that we found you safe and sound. Everyone has been looking for you amigo.’’

Alex grinned. He had hoped that his lie would check out. He didn’t want anyone to know about his powers yet, till he had it all figured out.

‘’Excuse me, detective. There’s been an accident around the Si'an Ka'an Biosphere Reserve road,’’ a female cop interrupted.

It was Officer Lucia Torres, his partner and also co-head of the homicide division.

‘’How bad is it Torres?’’ Gomez asked, narrowing his eyes

‘’Hard to explain sir.’’

‘’The bus is in pretty bad shape. But the occupants are alive and well.’’

‘’So what’s difficult in explaining such a common occurrence?’’

‘’You don’t understand Sir. They claimed the bus veered off the cliff, but was miraculously rescued by an unknown force.’’

‘’What?’’

Gomez gave her a puzzled look. He dropped his cigarette in the ashtray and put his legs down.

‘’Wait outside, young man,’’ he motioned to Alex, as he got up.

‘’Your classmates and teacher are on their way to their hotel. I will have my partner drive you to meet them.’’

After listening carefully to the details, Gomez nodded and dropped his pen on the notepad.

‘’Send in the forensics. I need a fingerprint from that bus.’’

"As he relaxed on his chair for a minute, his mobile phone beeped with an unknown number. Curious, he picked up the call:

‘'Hello.'’'

‘'Is this Detective Gomez?'’

‘'Yes? Speaking.'’

‘'I don’t have much time. This is Daniel Johnson. I’m in real serious trouble.'’

 *****

Back at the hotel, the students converged at the hotel lobby in groups, discussing their near-death experiences.

After their spectacular rescue, the driver had radioed the transport company headquarters, and another bus was immediately dispatched to pick them up

Bad news spreads fast. Before the tour bus arrived, the hotel was already swarming with journalists and news stations seeking more information about the strange occurrence.

‘’Dr Harper, can you describe what happened during the incident?’’

‘’Was it true that the bus was already over the cliff and was rescued by an unknown force?’’

‘’Did you catch a glimpse of the super creature? What was he like?’’

The barrage of questions was interrupted by blaring police sirens arriving at the hotel parking lot.

There were wild screams of excitement and jubilation from the students as Alex was sighted disembarking from one of the police squad cars, flanked by two cops.

‘’We part ways here, amigo. Join your colleagues while we address the press,’’ Detective Gomez whispered to Alex.

‘’Alright, Alright no more questions for the lady,’’ he interjected, moving to the middle of the group standing before the press.

‘’I’m Detective Luis Gomez. I’ll just take a few questions and we’re done.’’

‘’Sir, what do you have to say about the paranormal rescue of the victims of the ill-fated tour bus?’’

‘’We’re still investigating. Experts have been deployed to the scene to collect evidence. We’ll let you know when we come up with anything.’’

‘’What was it or was he like? A superhero perhaps?’’

‘’We don’t have that information at the moment.’’

While he addressed the press, with two other cops, Alex suddenly sighted Selena in the crowd and hurried up to meet her.

As they embraced, Alex felt a rush of familiarity and warmth, as if their reunion had been guided by invisible pheromones drawing them back together after so long apart.

‘’Where have you been? We’ve been looking everywhere. Was it - ’’

‘’Got lost in the jungle,’’ he interjected, smiling.

‘’But I’m okay.’’

‘’You sure?’’ she enquired anxiously, running her hands all over him to be sure.

Only after he fell into that pit did he realize how much he loved her and what she meant to him. He desired so much to be with her in a secluded place, talking and laughing all day.

‘’What’s your story Mr Rodriguez?’’ an angry voice cut in

Both students turned their heads.

‘’Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t see you, Dr Harper. Heard about the accident. I hope - ’’

‘’That’s not the answer to my question. Where were you?’’ she demanded.

‘’I, I got lost.’’

‘’He wandered into the near jungle and missed his way,’’ Serena added.

‘’That’s not proper. You should have been with the others.’’

‘’I want to see you in my office first thing on Monday when school resumes.’’

‘’Here. I guess this belongs to you,’’ she said, handing Alex’s bag to him.

In that instant, his ears began to twitch again. He overheard people in the restroom discussing in hushed tones.

‘’Will you excuse me, Ma’am? I need to use the loo,’’ he apologized.

‘’Serena, please give me a minute.’’

Moving into the restroom quietly, he locked the door behind him, clearing his throat.

‘’Hello boys,’’ he said coldly.

Diego, Ryan, and Tyler froze, their expressions twisted in horror as they stared at him in disbelief.