La Gorda

A few years. A few months. A few weeks. A few days. Simple multiple choice answers to a complicated question. 'How long would it take to ruin a man, his family, his church, and his community?' Well if you ask Sheriff Marcus Wheeler he would tell you he holds the world record of accomplishing all four in just a few days. In reality, most of it was accomplished in under eighteen hours. Was he proud of that? Absolutely! He had warned Pastor Bo Ostermon what would happen to those he loved, if he failed to hold up his end of the deal. After all, isn't a sheriff supposed to be a man of his word? So, as he had promised, he destroyed that little preacher man and became the town hero in the process. 'Pray if you wish, he will not come for you! Your protector is powerless to help you. Your faith is weak. Little man of God, you can't even protect the ones you love from me. You are a spineless coward. You have taken something that belongs to me. Return the members of the Vasquez family to me. And for your punishment you will now serve my purposes. YOU BELONG TO ME!' Another thick blast of putrid air burst from his nostrils, the sulfur so foul Bo passed out, falling face first into the sand, completely drenched in sweat. The last thing he remembered before hitting the ground was the demon's final words, 'YOU BELONG TO ME!'