“Sacrifice, Dante”, he murmurs, trying to regain his composure, “A giving up of something valuable or important for somebody or something else considered to be of more value. That’s the meaning. That’s the point. I don’t think any of you knows anything about sacrifice, but…”.

He points his finger to John.

“…I do”.

Nobody of us says anything. Sanders takes a long breath and rubs his forehead nonchalantly.

“Three words for three people. You can choose your principle. One single word for each one of you. You choose”.

He seems tired, suddenly. Exhausted. And I have no idea of what this game is all about, all I know is that this man will not let us go. He’s in too deep. He’s responsible for three homicides, if he gets arrested, he’ll go straight to the death row. He’s nothing left to lose.

“Will you let us go, if we win?”, Carmen asks.

Sanders smiles, sadly.

“No. You already knew that but I appreciate your question. You should choose loyalty, Miss Morales”.

“I am not going to play your game”, I state, moving a step forward him. The hand of the bootlicker behind me – I don’t remember his name – grabs my shoulder and pulls me back immediately, making me stumble.

Sanders stares at me, slightly surprised. Amused, even.

“You say there’s no salvation for us. Then I won’t be playing your fucking game”, I say again, louder this time, “I’m not going to be a puppet in your fucking hands”.

“Mister Turmont…”, Sanders sighs, bored, and waves his hand to the bald, French man.

He aims his gun to Alice’s head, pressing the barrel onto her temple. Alice closes her eyes shut and bows her head a little, grimacing. A single tear rolls down her cheek through her closed eyelid.

“No!”, Carmen exclaims and Tasha starts wriggling on her chair, trying to free herself from ropes and handcuffs. Francois hits her hard on the head with the butt of the gun and she spits blood between her military boots.

“You won’t get out from here. Not alive, at least”, Sanders says darkly, “But if you play, maybe your friends will live. Will you play?”.

I swallow hard and bite my lips, pursing them together tightly. My hands are shaking and I am staring at Alice with my eyes wide open.

“Okay…”, I say under my breath, “…Okay but don’t hurt her… don’t hurt them…”.

Sanders extends his hands and places his warm palm on my cheek, brushing it in a sort of compassion that I don’t need and I don’t want. I step back, shivering at the contact. His touch makes me think about a spider crawling on my skin.

“I’ll take loyalty”, Carmen exclaims abruptly, out of the blue. I look up at her and she’s staring at Sanders, standing up straight, a serious, proud expression on her exotic face. She looks beautiful and desperate and brave.

“I’ll take loyalty, Sanders. I’ll start. Please ask Mister Turmont to stop”, she says, firmly.

Jack Sanders smiles a little and nods in approval.

**

SOUNDTRACK:

* “Non Ci Guarderemo Indietro Mai” (Negrita)