- flashback, 9 years ago -

My college application was successful and I found myself in the first lesson I had in the States. The first period was maths with Mister Kennington, who was also our principal.

I recognized Gabriel, Leon, Joseph, Grigori, and Ren. We also got a new girl in our course along with me, who was Ryan's German exchange student for six months, Emery Engels, but she was a year younger than him that's why she ended up in grade eleven.

Our teacher was friendly and I assume he was the "cool" prof as well who got along with any student. He even would get along with Leon's remarks.

"So Leon, what is a polynomial?"
Leon put his hands behind his head, rocking in his chair so badly that I had the urge to kick the chair leg away and see his face meet the ground.
"I don't know, a Pokemón?"

The class laughed including Mister Kennington, who chose another student instead.

We received some exercises on the topic of polynomic functions. In the meantime, I chatted with my other bank neighbor Chase, until I noticed Leon drawing a little penis onto my paper.

"Fuck you", I cussed, drawing a bigger one onto his. He glared me down before covering my WHOLE sheet with a monstrous penis and threw it out of the window.

"WHAT WAS THAT FOR?"
"Okay, boys stop drawing dicks onto each other's sheets. Here you go, Adrián.", the professor said, handing me a new worksheet.

Ren and Joseph were doing their assigned tasks in contrast to the class who was constantly mumbling something to each other.

For a short period, the teacher addressed the upcoming class and what to bring. Thanks to the Dead Angels, I might be able to raise some money.

"Gabriel, can you stop flirting and pay attention to me?" Kennington called out with a humorous tone.

I turned around to the last row where Gabriel sat between two girls, chatting simultaneously.
The girls looked at each other, mouthing "what" with laughter, so Gabriel answered quickly: "It won't happen again, Mister Kennington."

Our professor appeared to favor Gabriel out of all the students. Probably it was his charming and smooth chatters, which kept not only girls on their heels for him.

Another example was during the break when he would lean against his locker and make a trio of girls stop in front of him. Leon looked intensely at one of the girls while stuffing his backpack into his space.

"So how tall are you exactly, Gabe?", one of them asked, fiddling with her curly hair.
"About six foot three.", he brushed the strain behind her ear, until Leon chimed in: "Yeah, horizontally."

Gabriel shot him a deadly glare and I bursted out laughing. "I'm sorry that you're not capable of working out the way I am, Leon."
Leon shot another look at the blond girl, before gifting Gabriel a middle finger: "See you outside., next to the trash container."

On our way across the hall, I dared to ask about the girl and he explained that she was his ex-girlfriend. Next to the trash bin, Ryan smoked a cigar, chatting with Emery.

The moment our arrival was noticed, Ryan's softened gaze turned to a neutral one and just nodded at what she had said, instead of tilting his head and intensely studying her.

Later on, the others joined, talking about the class trip and the shit we are going to do. Sneak out during the night into the woods that surrounded the mansion and stay up all night. I was thankful that our professor allowed Ryan to join us due to his exchange student.

Although Emery wasn't really on Gabriel's watch. He pulled Ryan aside and lectured him about how dangerous it is to involve her with the Dead Angels. I decided to distract Emery from Ryan's missing presence.

"So you're staying for six months?"
"Yeah, after that I'll return to Düsseldorf, to get my degree."
"And why did you choose the States out of all the places?"
I'd rather be back in Aguadilla again without having to kill and rob criminals for a living.

"I love speaking English and I'm fascinated by the American school system. I want to come back here after finishing school to become a midwife."
"That's an important job. Never heard of anyone setting it as their goal."
"I love dealing with babies and taking care of them. Pregnancy is also very interesting and I'd love to know how to help during birth."

Emery seemed very sweet and I hope that Ryan won't bring her too close to the Dead Angels. It might crush her and get her into danger.

After school, I passed by a convenience store and bought a package of toast for lunch. I counted the rest of my dozen cents, the rest of my money I have spent on my family's motel residency.

Accidentally I let the mountain of the cents slip out of my hand and stray all over the ground. "Fuck!", I cussed as my last money rolled beneath shelves and all over the shop. As I tried to pick up some of the cents, my hand grazed over another who helped me pick up. I looked up and locked eyes with a girl around my age. While I was frozen in place she continued picking every coin in reach up.

"Here you go.", our hands touched again, the moment she shoved the cents into my hand.
"Thank you...", I mumbled, putting the toast back on the shelf.

"Is everything alright?", she asked, confused at why I would put it back.
"Yeah, I don't need it anymore."
She picked the package of toast up throwing it in her basket to some chocolate bars, fruits, and soda.
"It's only 1.68$, I'll get it for you."

My heart beat faster, completely embarrassed at how some people in the line suspiciously stared at me.
"I-, uh, thank you, that's not necessary."

She smiled and just shook her head, waving me off. Warmth embraced my heart, for no reason at all. Maybe it was her nice gesture or the way, she had a little dimple on her left cheek with a downwarded smile. Perhaps even her long dark brown straight hair, falling over her shoulders, contrasting her gray eyes, hiding behind the light green taint.

After she had paid for her purchase, we went outside of the shop.
"Here you go."
"Thank you...I don't know how to pay you back."
If she hadn't noticed by now that I was poor, she would've been looking at my dirty clothes. Contrasting the others, her look contained nothing vengeful or mocking, it was true compassion.

"There's no need to. Pay it back to me by enjoying your toast.", the moment she turned around and tried to leave I wanted to at least know who she was.

"What's your name?"
She turned around with another damn smile that did something to me, not like any other smile I received. The first one that felt genuine.
"Lara. And who are you?"

"Adrián.", I added out of breath with a stupid grin.
"Very well, see you around, Adrián!"
She added in a hurry. Seeing her leave felt like a heartbreak, I wished she would've stayed at least a bit longer. So I could notice more details about her face.

༘⋆.𖥔 ݁ ˖₊ ⊹⟡ 𐦍༘⋆.𖥔 ݁ ˖₊ ⊹⟡ 𐦍༘⋆.𖥔 ݁ ˖₊ ⊹⟡

Little did I know, that Lara was the woman I'd fall for the rest of my life. From that moment on, I knew she was something special. Without any back thought of how many sick and twisted things I ought to do to save her life.

Lara, the woman I wouldn't just take a bullet for. I'd let the world burn, just to save her. Apart from the Dead Angels, she was the only one who wouldn't judge me. She was like an Angel sent from heaven to help me out of the current situation.

The moment I met her in the club I left my past behind. All the murder and involuntary stalking had a different reason apart from wanting to continue seeing her. I should have set DAI and this damn cellar in flames before I decided to step foot in Indigo.

Even if we were separated now, it didn't mean she wouldn't return to me. What belongs together will never part.

Something signalized me, that I would have company. Before I could open my eyes and take a look at the people in the bedroom I heard voices.

"For how long has she been asleep?", an oddly familiar voice asked. Deep and laced with danger I was yet to face. The person who asked this, probably also laid their hand on my forehead.

"Since three hours roundabout.", Grigori answered. I didn't dare open my eyes yet.

"Her forehead is completely hot. If she had caught a fever, I would skin Matteo alive."
My heart suddenly stopped and I responded with an involuntary "No."

The person chuckled: "Sorry, little butterfly, you can't stop me."
I ripped my eyes open immediately and sat upright.

I wanted to lecture their boss on how calling me nicknames Gabriel used, isn't sitting right with me. Until my eyes fell on him and time stood still.

Those eyes which were my void, same color as his hair. The scar that created his image. This couldn't be. Gabriel was dead.

"Don't do this to me...", I brought out, hand intertwined with my bed sheet. My respiratory system must have been broken by now and every faith left, parted from me. That DAI's CEO would protect me, was a delusion. Not if Gabriel bruised and choked me every other day.

His features were now more manly and sharp. Some faint black beard stubbles.

Gabriel smiled and even the latest alarms in my body went off by now. "I didn't mean to frighten you."
"YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE TO DEAD!"

Grigori watched our interaction with amusement, while Mahit with concern next to the wardrobe.
"I didn't die that day, the police also reported it to María. She just didn't tell you."

The worst part ignited in the back of my mind. My mother.

"So you survived the overdose?"
His smile oddly grew wider as I mentioned the overdose.
"Sure."

"Where were you all these years?", my eyes daring to break free of tears, "You could have prevented me from dating Matteo."

"It's not that easy, and sorry, I should've interfered earlier until you would find out he stalked you, installed security cameras all over the house, and killed every man you meet." My body shivered at the reminder of Matteo's corpse room.

He tried to reach out for my shoulders, but I slapped his hand away.
"Don't touch me. You will hurt me again."
He frowned.
"I would never lay a hand on you, pequeña mariposa. What did Matteo do to you? Did he hurt you?"

I stood up and tried to exit the bedroom and slip past Grigori who grabbed my waist with one hand.

"Stay here.", Grigori warned and yanked me back to Gabriel who pulled me into a tight hug. I punched his chest, panicking. It was nothing like a hug with Matteo. Even though Matteo's arms were around me, I felt as free as a bird. On the contrary, Gabriel's felt like a cage.

I pushed him away.

"YOU HAVE VANISHED FROM MY LIFE FOR YEARS AND SUDDENLY CAME BACK? EXPECTING ME TO FORGET WHAT YOU HAVE DONE?!"
"I don't know what I should've done. All I know is that I now managed to be with you and let you find out by yourself what kind of guy Matteo is."

Matteo was Gabriel's old best friend. It all made sense. Everybody was connected.
"So you decided to let me walk into a disaster and fall so deeply in love until I got ENGAGED! Just to get my heart crushed weeks later."

Compassion flickered in my brother's eyes.
"I'm sorry that you needed to date such an asshole like Matteo."
I took a step back, letting out a fraction of the rage stored inside of me after all these years.
"You were better off dead, Gabriel. I never want to see you again."

He flinched visibly. I aimed toward the kitchen, feeling Grigori gripping my waist again to shove me back.
"FUCK OFF, GRIGORI! YOU CAN ALL FUCK YOURSELF!"
"Let her go, or you'll lose even more fingers than Ryan did.", Gabriel warned. Grigori withdrew and crossed his arms in front of his chest. They watched me leave and grab my suitcase from the couch.

I shot Mahit one last glance who was utterly in shock and observed me with drawn-together eyebrows and hanging corners of his mouth.
I subtly smiled at him and left his apartment, calling an Uber to Carlos' flat.