Luana turned to the dirt road that leads to the temple. The sun was already setting in the sky and she could see the temple standing out in front of her amongst the slightly tall weeds surrounding it. She rehearsed all her plans in her head as she drew closer. She only needed to convince Maya to her side. This she was very certain she would achieve. She came to the clearing in front of the temple and she halted her steps.

    Chloe was getting in her way and she needed to be smart about her execution which is why she needs Maya on her side. She had been trailing Chloe and Lyne all these while to get enough information so as to devise a means to take Chloe out of the equation. She remembers what she had seen in this place the last time she followed Lyne secretly without her knowing about it. Once Chloe is out of the way, then getting to Lyne would be easier. 

    There was so much hatred to go around between Chloe and Maya, which made it all very much uncomplicated to get Maya on her side. This was after she came to the realization that Maya killed Chloe’s sister and Chloe has been trying to take revenge on Maya ever since then. She knows how Maya had been on the run and avoided Chloe, in fact, it was during one of Chloe’s hunting sprees for Maya that she had been opportune to trail her and learn a lot about their relationship. The relationship she was going to propose to Maya would be based on that of a common enemy. 

    The big doors of the temple stood before her and awaited her opening. She grabbed the knob of one of the two doors and pushed it open. It creaked slowly inwards and revealed the dusty hall and the altar ahead made of unwrought stone. Light from the sun shone on the altar as the roof over that part of the temple was missing. 

    She had never gotten close to this part of the temple since she was only trailing either Chloe or Lyne on occasions that she had been there. A wooden ancient coffin stood just beside the altar. She had seen something like that before while she was trailing Lyne. Luana observed the cracked walls of the temple and the broken window panes. She walked briskly towards the altar with her hands on the handle of the knife she was concealing under her clothes. She could not afford to take any chances. She saw another door leading to a small cella in the temple. She opened it slowly and peeped in. She saw a small statue with the left part of the face already fallen off. It seemed to be staring at her. As soon as she stepped in, a sword pointed at her face from behind the door. Behold, it was Maya, The Spanish Ninja.

    “It seems you have lost your way. Perhaps you need help finding it. Who are you and why are you here?” Maya asked now as she moved the sword towards her face. She leaned back and retreated to the main hall.

    “My name is Luana and I come in peace,” Luana said as she held her hands up in surrender and kept retreating towards the altar.

    “Tell me why I shouldn’t kill you right here and right now,” Maya said, not showing any signs of withdrawing her sword from her face.

    “Well, I guess you will not hear what I have to tell you about Chloe then,” Luana replied. Then, Maya stopped and returned her sword to its scabbard. She cast a surprised gaze at her and asked,

    “What do you know about Chloe?” 

    “I know she wants to kill you for killing her sister. I know how you have been on the run and hiding from her. I also know how Lyne’s mother was killed and I am sure Chloe is not in the dark about it either. Now you can see we need each other.” She said now smiling devilishly.

    “Chloe is our common enemy. I can protect you from Chloe. I can help you kill her only if you agree to work with me.” Luana added.

    “You think I am scared of Chloe,” Maya asked.

    “Well, it is obvious. I can protect you. I just need you to work with me.” Luana replied. This time around, it made Maya smile and shake her head as she paced slowly in circles in front of her.

    “I am not scared of Chloe. I am rather running from her in order to avoid her battling with me.” Maya said with a low tone as if depressed. 

    “I still don’t understand you. Why?” Luana asked rather confused.

    “She is the wife of my son and I have been only trying to protect her all along. I was not running out of fear. No matter what, I am obliged to protect her thereby protecting my son in the process.” She said as she rested upon the stony altar. 

    That was new. Luana had no idea of what she just heard. But she was still very sure she could convince Maya. She decided to bring the most important piece of the puzzle into the game now. 

    “Perhaps there is a way I can convince you.” Luana beamed with a smile on her face.

    “You don’t give up, do you? At least you heard all that I just said. I can’t let you lay hands on her.” Maya replied now losing interest. 

    “No, this will definitely make you change your mind,” Luana said still beaming with a smile. She walked briskly from where she was towards the coffin that stood beside the altar. 

    “Come and help me move this.” She called Maya.

    “I will give up if I were you. What is all these for?”  Maya said as she walked toward Luana.

They pushed the coffin away from the side of the altar so that the ray of sun coming in through the broken roof can make it easy to see what was concealed in the coffin.

    The most important piece of the puzzle she wanted to bring was to tell Maya of the disappearance of her lover. Chloe was guilty of this and she knows it should be enough for Maya to change her decision to protect Chloe.

    Luana gestured for Maya to move back as she grabbed the lid of the coffin and opened it to reveal the decomposing body of Rodrigo. She and Maya drew back and covered their nose as the stench from the corpse filled the temple.

    “Does this corpse look familiar? Oh, you were in love with him once.” Luana taunted.

    “No, Roderigo. No, it can’t be.” Maya said with a teary eye. Luana watched as she grabbed the edge of the coffin and knelt down in sorrow. 

    “He has not been missing anyway, all thanks to Chloe.” She taunted on.

    “Think about what I said. We don’t have much time. I’ll wait outside.” Luana said with satisfaction. She headed for the entrance door and she could hear Maya crying audibly now. As she opened the door to step outside, Maya shouted in rage and agony.

    “Noooo…….”  

With this Luana paused and smile, then she stepped out of the temple.