Chapter 4

  ALCOHOL AND SECRETS

  At dawn, the first rays of sunlight illuminated Gabriel’s face, waking him. He felt strangely at peace; since arriving in the Mortal Realm, his nights had been free of the nightmares that tormented him back home.

  —Hey, do you want some coffee? —Max appeared at the doorway of his room, holding a mug.

  —Yes, thanks —Gabriel replied, taking the cup with a smile—. Won’t your parents wonder why you made two coffees?

  —They’re not here. I think they left early for work —Max said, a faint note of concern in his voice.

  Gabriel decided to change the subject without wasting time.

  —I have an idea to help you get closer to Laura. Yesterday I heard there’s going to be a party tonight. Maybe you could go and spend some time with her, tell her how you feel at some point.

  —Oh, right… I had forgotten about the mission —Max looked at his coffee and sighed—. All right, I’ll go to the party.

  As Max headed toward the kitchen, Gabriel followed him, noticeably uneasy.

  —Everything okay? —Gabriel asked, noticing his restlessness.

  —Yeah, of course. We’ll both go together.

  —Both of us? I’m not sure it’s a good idea for me to go —Gabriel hesitated.

  —It’s a party, you should experience what one is like —Max said with a slightly forced smile—. Besides, I’m not very good at these things, and that way I can focus on talking to Laura without feeling overwhelmed.

  —All right. I’ll take care of having fun while you talk to Laura —Gabriel agreed, shaking Max’s hand to seal the deal.

  As night fell, they both got ready and headed to the party. Despite Max’s upbeat attitude, Gabriel still sensed an uneasiness in him, as if he were struggling with something internal. When they arrived, Laura was already waiting for them at the entrance, smiling, a beer in her hand.

  —Guys! —she exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement.

  —You look beautiful —Gabriel said, kissing her on the cheek.

  —Thanks, new guy —she replied with a little laugh.

  —Have you already started drinking? —Max asked, glancing at the beer in Laura’s hand.

  —Obviously! The night is young and I need to unwind. Come on, inside.

  The house was packed with people, and the atmosphere pulsed to the rhythm of the music. As soon as they walked in, Tatiana approached and hugged Gabriel, happy to see him there.

  —Gabriel! I thought you wouldn’t come. You look way too proper for this.

  —Max convinced me —he replied with a smile.

  At that moment, a deep voice rose behind him.

  —It’s strange to see you here, Max. Are you sure you’re not an evil clone? —joked Grant, one of Max’s classmates, flashing him a defiant smile.

  Max looked at him with a mix of contempt and restraint, keeping his cool.

  —Grant… —Max said, his voice controlled.

  The tension broke when Jazmín, a lively red-haired girl, appeared holding several glasses. She approached with a big smile and kissed Grant, making it clear that the former couple were back together.

  —Drinks for everyone! —she announced, handing them out.

  Gabriel eyed the contents warily; it was a pale pink liquid that didn’t inspire much confidence.

  —It’s vodka with grapefruit. Try it, Gaby —Jazmín insisted.

  Laura noticed his hesitation and stepped closer.

  —You don’t have to drink if you don’t want to. It’s okay —she told him.

  —No, I will —Gabriel said, wanting to try something new. He downed the drink in one gulp, surprised by the burning sensation it left in his throat.

  —That’s it, Gaby! —Jazmín raised her glass in encouragement—. See? He’s not a kid! Let’s dance.

  The music was so loud they could barely hear each other. Gabriel began to feel the effects of the alcohol; his vision blurred, and a pleasant warmth spread through him as he danced and laughed. In the middle of the euphoria, he noticed Laura slipping away from the crowd with tears in her eyes. Without thinking twice, he followed her.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  —Laura? —he asked softly, sitting beside her on the porch.

  —Gabriel… don’t worry, I’m fine —she said, wiping her tears, though her voice sounded broken.

  —What’s wrong? —he asked, worried.

  —I’m so stupid… —she said, trembling—. He promised he’d leave his girlfriend to be with me, but it was a lie. I was so foolish to believe him.

  —You mean Grant? —Gabriel guessed, remembering the tension between him and Max.

  —Yes… Please don’t tell anyone —she begged, ashamed—. We were seeing each other in secret. He just wanted something easy, and I gave it to him without thinking. Now I feel like a terrible person. If Jazmín finds out, she’ll hate me—and I deserve it.

  Gabriel hugged her gently.

  —Listen, it’s okay to cry. It’s okay to scream if you need to. But you have to understand that Grant is not a good person. He’ll only hurt you.

  Laura nodded, throwing an empty beer bottle to the ground in frustration.

  —You’re right… but it’s hard. When I’m with him, he makes everything bad disappear. He’s so sweet when we’re alone, but I guess he was just using me.

  —It’s hard to accept, but you can get through it —Gabriel said softly—. Let’s go get some water. I also need a break from the alcohol.

  Shortly afterward, they left the party and went to a nearby park. Sitting on the swings, they breathed in the cool night air, letting the silence calm their thoughts.

  —It’s a beautiful night —Gabriel said, looking up at the starry sky with a sense of peace that felt new to him.

  Laura looked at him and smiled.

  —You know, at first I didn’t trust you. I thought you were someone who would hurt Max. But I was wrong. As his best friend, I want him to be with someone good… and I think that someone could be you.

  Gabriel fell silent, surprised and a little stunned by the revelation.

  —Together? Does Max… feel something for me?

  Laura nodded, noticing his reaction.

  —I’m sorry, I thought you already knew…

  —Oh… —Gabriel looked up at the sky, a mix of sadness and confusion in his eyes—. I can’t do that to him. I like him, but I don’t want to hurt him. I’m not from here, and… when I finish what I have to do, I have to leave. I don’t want to cause him more pain.

  —Why not try? Happiness is the only thing that matters. And Max would be happy with you —she said sincerely.

  Gabriel sighed, running a hand over his face. The revelation left him conflicted. Without saying anything else, he stood up and began walking back toward Max’s house, overwhelmed by his own feelings.

  —Damn it! I ruined it —Laura muttered, regretting having said too much.

  That night, Gabriel’s thoughts gave him no peace. For the first time since arriving in the Mortal Realm, he felt his mission becoming increasingly complicated.

  Gabriel arrived at Max’s house, trying not to make any noise. The silence inside reminded him of the loneliness of his mission and the sense of failure weighing on him. He poured himself a glass of water and, with weary determination, began packing his things into his bag.

  —Sofía… I wish you were here —he whispered, as tears slid down his cheek.

  At that moment, the front door opened. Gabriel tried to hurry, but his movements betrayed his urgency.

  —Gabriel? —Max’s voice interrupted him, confused.

  —Hey, did you have fun? —Gabriel asked without looking at him, continuing to pack.

  —What are you doing? —Max asked, noticing Gabriel hurriedly putting away his belongings.

  —I’m packing… I failed, Max. The mission won’t be completed —his voice broke as he said it.

  —What are you talking about? You can still help me get over what happened with Laura. The mission doesn’t have to end like this —Max struggled to hold back his tears.

  Gabriel took a breath and looked at him, his eyes full of sadness.

  —I know, Max… but she told me. I know you have feelings for me, and the worst part is that… I feel something for you too. Now that I know, I can’t stay. When the Angelic Tribunal finds out, they’ll forbid me from coming back. This… this should never have happened.

  —No, Gabriel, please. Why don’t we pretend? Why can’t the mission change? Stay, don’t go… —Max took Gabriel’s hand, trying to hold him back.

  —It’s not that simple, Max. It doesn’t matter whether I tell them or not; the Angelic Tribunal will know. I’m sorry… I regret causing all this. —Gabriel let go of his hand and, holding back his own tears, stepped closer and kissed him on the cheek—. It was incredible to meet you, but I have to return home.

  Max couldn’t hold it in any longer, and as he watched Gabriel leave, he broke down. He had never felt something so deep before, and now that connection was shattering into a thousand pieces.

  Suddenly, a scream broke the silence.

  —Max! —Gabriel came running back.

  When he opened the front door, he saw Laura slumped against the doorframe, covered in blood, with a deep wound in her leg.

  —Laura! —Max dropped to his knees beside her, alarmed—. What happened to you?! Laura, stay with me! —he begged, trying to keep her conscious.

  —Gabriel, go get my parents! —Max shouted desperately.

  Gabriel ran to Max’s parents’ bedroom, but it was empty.

  —They’re not here! —he said, rushing back.

  —What do you mean they’re not here?! Where the hell are they?! —Max was on the brink of despair—. Bring me my phone, it’s in my room!

  Gabriel brought it immediately, and Max called emergency services.

  —Yes, I need help… my friend is injured. Send an ambulance to 2450 Nuevo León Avenue.

  They waited through endless minutes until the ambulance arrived. The paramedics stabilized Laura and took her to the hospital. Max, still in shock and with his hands stained with blood, stood frozen. Gabriel guided him to the bathroom, sat him in the bathtub, and turned on the faucet, letting the water run over him to clean him.

  —It’s okay, Max. She’ll be fine. I’m here —Gabriel whispered, trying to calm him.

  —Have you seen my parents? —Max asked, staring at the red-tinged water swirling down the drain.

  —No, they weren’t here. —Gabriel left him clean clothes and gestured for him to rest—. Change and go to your room. I’ll take care of cleaning the floor.

  Gabriel scrubbed every corner, cleaning the bloodstains Laura had left behind. When he finished, he sat on the floor, exhausted. Unable to help it, he began to cry, processing the chaotic night they had just lived through.

  Something caught his attention; a chemical smell lingered in the air.

  —Ammonia? Why does Laura’s blood smell like ammonia? —he wondered, unsettled.

  He looked at the dirty water in the bucket and noticed it was tinted an unusual black color. Unease crept over him, and he decided to inspect the house. He went to Max’s parents’ bedroom; it was perfectly tidy, as if no one had slept there. Searching for more clues, he checked the drawers and found something that made his blood run cold: both parents’ wallets and phones were there, untouched.

  Gabriel sat down on the couch, trying to process everything. Something strange and dark was happening, but exhaustion overcame him, and he decided to close his eyes for a moment, planning to deal with it in the morning.

  When he woke up, he knew his mission would become even more complicated.