Reminder
Esteban is 22
Anais 20!!!
I said Esteban was 25 in the beginning! Ignore that!

—-

No name POV

"Show me the vial" the presidente's voice was hushed as I pushed a small suitcase against the table of the small dinner cart. The setting of our meeting was discrete but intimate. It was nearly half-past 1 am so only the low life's and delinquents were up to play. I clasped open the gold brackets of the leather case, parading the three clear vials of cesium; a potent stimulant for the bulls.

"Perfect" the president's grin was devilish. "How potent will this be to the bull?"

"Very. One drop in their bloodstream and they rage. No one will be able to take them. Not even El Jefe"

"No taming means....?" His words trailed off. I nodded cautiously, clueing him in on the assured outcome of the match.

"El Jefe will be no more" I interjected, making sure to close the case again.

The presidente picked the olive from his clear martini before popping it in his mouth.

"Here is another 6k pesos to make sure that statement comes to fruition." He said, sliding a thick wad of cash across the table.

Anais

Tens of thousands of people flood the cramped rows of the boisterous stadium.
There are screams and laughter ringing as we girls lined up for our opening dance. We were dressed in our fiery red skirts and front tie blouses; deep red roses adorned each of our ears.

I hear the drinking song they're singing, its tune blaring in the foreground as we do some last-minute stretches. Esteban was warming up on the other side of the arena, practicing some moves with James and Luis.

Espana's national anthem finishes and the people stand to cheer! They were impatient for the match to begin. I hear the announcers over the stadium speakers introducing the three ninos.
Esteban, James, and Luis parade out a secret entrance and wave to the adoring crowds.

I could see Esteban's nerves as he ran through the length of the stadium. All the Ninos were nervous but they had done it a million times. They would come out victorious.

——

James

Luis? Sure, he looks like a Luis

Esteban ⬇️

———-

"And remember ladies!! 3/4/5 then turn. Everything on the 8th beat!" Señorita Cruz demonstrated. We nodded nervously and look at each other with elation. This was the biggest fight known to the world and our first dance as a studio in the public eye. This could put Señorita's studio on the map so we all wanted to do our best.

I was even more nervous knowing the president would be front and center. I knew there was still bad blood between Esteban and him since their fight. I couldn't help but feel it was all my fault?

"And NOWWWW!!" The voices of the announcers snatched me from my thoughts, "The Rojo ladies from the señorita Cruz dance studio!!!!" they shouted eagerly.

We sauntered seductively to the center of the stadium, sashaying and spinning with each choreographed step. The vibrant cheers of the crowd lifted me to a familiar sense of ecstasy.

I couldn't help but lift my eyes in search of the President. He was at his sombra seat with his wife and daughter. He still had a bruise in the place where Esteban had punched him.
Devil.

A wicked smile formed on his lips as he met my gaze. He looked cocky with an overbearing sense of confidence for the spectacle ahead.
I shuttered, diverting my attention away before looking at my teammates.

We were ready to perform and once the music started, we danced.

We sauntered with such vigor and grace.
Every tune was quick and every beat precise.
I felt at home again, dancing in the arena with some of my dearest Amigas as the crowds hooted and cheered us on.

Just before we finished the second 8 count, a few screams echoed from the highest point of the stadium. Usually, I would dismiss a scream like that but it wasn't the everyday delighted scream; it was a blood-curdling one; one that signaled danger.

"AGHHHHHH"

"apurarse(hurry)"

"detrás de ti(behind you!)"

"Toroooo!" (Bull)

The girls continued dancing, oblivious to the warnings of the crowds. Maybe it was just a few drunk patrons in the crowd? Trying to tease us girls to mess up.

I spun around again to meet my mark and froze as I see the motivation for the screams of the crowd.

In the corner of my eye was an enormous, jet black, rabid:

"Bull" my words barely came above a whisper. "bull!" I repeated but my words were drowned out by the music of the band.

I stopped and looked to Mariela, pulling her wrist to alert her of the danger. She stopped as she saw me and turned to interpret my fixed gaze.

"Omg!!" she screamed, "TOROOOOO!!" she pointed.
The girls finally caught wind of the impending danger and started screaming!! We were all frantic, desperate to leave the stadium as soon as possible but I knew the nature of bulls. The more disorder there was, the more the Bull would become agitated.

"Hey hey! If we run! It will try to kill all of us! Stop!" I try to announce but it was no use.

"Ughh? Looks like there has been an escapee eager to join the ladies in rojo!" The announcer teased but his nonchalant attitude was nothing more than amusing.

I see Esteban and Luis spring to action. James was running through the crowds, trying to find the booth where the announcers were. We had no way to communicate with them and had no clue what to do.
Señorita Cruz didn't exactly cover this in dance class.

James's voice finally belts over the stadium speakers as he reaches the announcers booth.
"Ladies! Ladies! Do you hear me? If you hear me Nod yes!"

We watched each other but nodded calmly at his command.

"Remain calm. No sudden movements okay? And stay together!"

We nodded again, looking at each other with fear. Some girls had tears in their eyes. Death seemed inevitable as the Bull circled us but we had to remain still!

Esteban and Luis tiptoed behind the Bull, careful to not startle it.

"Omg!! We're gonna die!" One girl yelled, cowering in fear.

"Hey! Hey! No, we're not! You heard James!! We must remain still. Okay? We are all in deep red which was the bull's stimulant. Any movement is an invitation for it to attack!"

Some ladies moan and groan with fear but nod at my words.
"Running only makes him angrier. Huddle together in the 5th formation. Link elbows and back away slowly. Got it, ladies?"

The ladies nodded cautiously and did as they were told. We all linked arms and started to slowly back away. We were almost by the gate near the exit before Gabriella selfishly sprinted and screamed.

"You stupid girl!" I yelled, trying to keep the other ladies calm but once they saw her run they all scattered like flies. Each girl ran in every other direction, pushing me further and further away from the gate.

The Bull excitedly trailed behind one girl then another. It was confused on who to target which agitated it even more.

Esteban was now running with Luis by his side. They had what seemed to be a black rope, winding it around their wrists to sling around the Bull.

"Hey! Over here!" Esteban whistled trying to distract the bull but it was no use. Our bright red costumes were too attractive.

Esteban thumped the foot against the ground, trying everything to distract it.

I try to make my way to the gate to exit but am pushed down by a row of screaming girls. My back landed in the brown sand, my outfit now stained with the dirt and soot of the stadium.

"Anais!!!" I hear Mariela's voice in the distance but my vision was still hazy. I couldn't see clearly with all the dust in the air until I blinked my eyes a couple of times. Before I could even process my environment, the hot steam from the bulls nostrils greets my lips.

"Anais!" I hear the urgency in Esteban's voice.

The crowd was quiet.
Eerily quiet.

The Bull still turned its nose toward my chin, its black soulless eyes glaring into my eyes.
It was strange but I was not fearful?
I had never seen a rabid Bull up close before.

It was beautiful.

I pressed my palm against its wet fur, reaching out to touch its forehead. It flinched a little, grunting with anger but before long, it allowed me to press my palm to its head.
And it was at that moment that I felt its pain.
It's sadness and fear.
This Bull wasn't a monster by nature; it was a monster by necessity.
His destiny was to be slaughtered and killed for senseless entertainment. How did we expect it to act?

"Shhhh... there there" I press my lips against its head, kissing its temple before staring into its eyes.

He looked sad
Defeated... tired.
"I won't hurt you" I promised, kissing it's temple again.

Esteban and Luis came behind the bull snatching it by its neck and tying the thick rope around its horn.

James comes from the distance and grabbed the Bull by its horns. Esteban took out his long silver knife and lifts it to its chest.

"Esteban wait!" I say trying to caution him to rethink his actions. The Bull kicked and grunted with anger, agitated once again by their violence.

Esteban ignores me, enraged that the beast had escaped from the pit.

"Esteban!" I shouted again. I was still on the floor, too frozen to move from my spot. He took the sword, lifting it to the sky before stabbing it in its stomach. He must have done it 10x! Maybe 20x.
And just like that, it was over.
The beautiful beast was dead.

He sliced off its tail, pulling the sword through the chest of the bull and pulling out the sword. He stuck it again in its skull for good measure before turning to face me.

I looked at him; sad and enraged he had killed the bull so coldly.

"Are you okay?" he grabbed me, lifting me from the floor. I looked down at his hands in disgust.

"Anais! Answer me!" His hands were pressed into my forearms, urgently running a palm against my skin. His hands were filled with blood.

"Anais... are you okay?
Did it hurt you?" He asked every question at once but to be honest, I couldn't answer them. I was so confused about the events that had unfolded.

The loud cheers of the crowd mixed in with Esteban's voice rang through my ears.

"Hey someone get her some water! She looks pale!"

All I saw was blood as I looked to Esteban's dirty palms. I see the lifeless body of the bull just a few inches away from me as a pool of its blood dripped from its side.

"Anais?
Anais
Anais?"

Esteban's voice was the last one I heard before drifting into darkness.