Chapter Text
Cecilia hummed, carefree and content, as she dug a particularly colorful piece of sea glass out of the wet sand. It was bright green and sanded to opaqueness by the rocky shore, far away from the smooth expanse of sand where the beachgoers basked in the sunlight.
"Just stay where I can see you, mami, it's dangerous out there," her mother had warned her, and she had chuckled with naught as she watched the woman fall asleep on her beach chair.
She'd stopped seeing the sun umbrellas over the horizon minutes prior, but she'd found that the prettiest seashells and knickknacks that washed ashore could be found near the entrance to the shallow cave.
She thought she'd heard a faint rustling, like wind pushing at the sand around her feet.
She watched, confused, as the sand almost seemed to levitate, to fly around her in a circle, and it seemed to be picking up speed.
Then she'd seen a faint green light hug her shadow, and her blood had run cold.
She'd heard it from every single family member, every single old woman sat in the plaza.
If you see a green light, run
She tried to, she really did, but as soon as she turned around the light had shone brighter and a hand around her arm, pushing roughly enough to bruise, pulled her into the cave.
She didn't dare look up. She knew what she would see, she'd heard the stories, so she settled on staring at the sand that rapidly swirled around her and her captor. But then he grabbed her face with rough hands and forced her eyes on him, and she saw the source of the light that would forever haunt her.
That sick, sick, stare, glowing pupils blown and mouth twisted in an appalling, unhinged grin. The deathly pallor of his skin as it pressed against her, locking her in his hold, hand guiding her to look at the images that formed in the sand around them.
"Look at your pathetic future!" He let out the most maniacal of laughs, and she knew it would stay with her.
The green light morphed and mutated as it showed gut-wrenching scenes, of an older, broken Cecilia and a violent drunk husband, of loved ones dying and suffering and catastrophe striking.
She stared at the horrifying display while choking on her own tears, so desolate she didn't feel the hand leave her face.
She did however, feel the burning pain beneath her swimsuit, threatening to split her in two as she was manhandled on the man's rock hard appendage, screaming herself hoarse before a hand was slapped over her mouth. She moaned in disgust when a rat climbed over her body and licked at her face.
And all she could do was cry and hope the sickening pain would stop soon.
But it didn't, not even when he -fucking Bruno Madrigal- decided he was done with her and left her lying pathetically on the sand, struggling to catch her breath.
Not even when she went back to her worried mom and found she couldn't even form words.
She soon realized that the pain Bruno puts you through never, ever stops.
Bruno kicked lightly at the decorated door. It opened to welcome his exhausted form. He anticipated the cold sand that would welcome him as he'd lay down, satisfied and spent after tormenting another innocent soul with his visions, and taking another childhood that would never be given back. If I have to see that shit, why shouldn't they, he snarled under his breath. Fucking pests.
Dolores planted herself in front of the man, who groaned as his dreams of going straight to his room and taking a nap were crushed.
"Too much noise, I know," he sighed. Dolores looked terribly tense, balled fists and lips pulled taut in a frown.
"That little brat screamed like a dying goat," she began, eerily soft-spoken through her irked state. "My brain hurts just thinking about it. Gag your girls next time or I'll tell abuela about why you don't want to marry. You know how she'll react. Hm!"
Bruno groaned a "fine" and pushed her aside, once again going for his room.
"You know you don't mean it," Agustín chuckled under his breath from his desk. At least he hoped his niece didn't mean her threats of telling on her family members. Hell, if Julieta found out about his escapades with attractive young men, he'd be dead.
He sighed and bit his fountain pen. The paperwork was extenuating, especially when his clients didn't cooperate.
"Papà, here's your tea," said Luisa as she walked into the studio.
"Thank you."
He took the cup. Luisa crossed her arms and peeked over at the documents.
"I don't understand none of this shit but you look mad. Need anything?"
"Ah, Osvaldo still owes me a million fucking pesos and he's acting like he never even took the damn loan. The fat fuck's even dumber than I thought!"
Luisa lit up. "Would you like me to help with that?"
"Sure, but don't kill him," her dad chuckled.
"Nah, that's Isa's thing. I'll put him in his place, don't worry!"
And so she left, running with footsteps heavy and confident.
That time she got it over with quick. Osvaldo knew he was doomed once he was lifted off his wagon, finding himself with his feet off the ground and being spun around roughly to be met with his tormentor.
The pleas started once he saw the young woman's irate face and her massive build, intimidated to the point of tears and begging for mercy.
"You'll get mercy once you pay back my dad, you sack of shit!" She growled as he was thrown to the ground, wheezing as all air left his lungs and punches like falling boulders were thrown at his gut, one after the other, and he made no sound as he was left breathless. It felt like his guts had been pushed through a meat grinder. All he could do was cry, he had no voice to beg with.
"You know I'm holding back, right? You know I could punch right through you and rip your fucking heart out, do you want that?"
Osvaldo wheezed out a "no," crying pathetically and struggling to catch his breath.
"You gonna pay off the debt then?"
"I-I don't have that money, please, just give me more ti-"
Luisa slapped him. He saw her hold herself back, reducing the force and speed of her hand right before it descended on his cheek, and yet the metallic taste of blood invaded his senses.
He spat out two teeth.
Luisa got up from her position straddling him, to his surprise, which quickly turned to horror.
She lifted his wagon and held it right above him, solely by her thumb and index on a wheel.
"P-please don't!" He choked out through a mouthful of blood.
"I won't... if you pay my dad back in a week."
"I will, I swear! J-just please leave me alone!"
Luisa threw the wagon behind her and heard it shatter, satisfied.
"Good."
She turned and walked away, growling, "you know what mi hermana does to those who don't meet the deadline" before she was out of earshot.
Osvaldo laid his head on the cold pavement. He coughed, sending rivets of blood flying before landing on his person.
He couldn't go to Julieta. He'd messed with her husband.
He was fucked.