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I drop the brick of noodles in the bubbling water, watching as it softens in the heat, and I wonder if Victor has ever done so like that to a person I’ve heard stories about the man who lives in the castle on the hill, but I’ve never come across him

It reminds me of thefor the things they’ve done But for so innocent people

Anger bubbles throughmy dinner As soon as they’re completely soft, I turn off the heat, and my head spins wildly for a mo over, until the dizzy spell passes

“Where are you, papá?” I whisper to the ethe counter, I reach for it with reen button, I press the device to my ear “Papá?”

“Sofía?” The deep ruood friend Guillermo comes from the other end of the line “Are you at ho cold

“Where is he?”

“Sofía, listen to me Are you at home?”

“Yes,” I hiss, sluh to holdbad has happened, I feel it in the pit ofblur before me, and I attempt to blink the emotion away

“I need you to be strong now Escúcharowls for me to listen to him

I nod,my response in a raspy tone, “Si, tio”

“In your father’s bedroom, there’s a chest of drawers, put your hand in the back of the bottom drawer to find a set of keys I’ll text you an address Take soh for you to run If you want to take any personal belongingsdistances Sofía—”

“What’s happening?” I cry, losing my shit because I can’t do this I can’t lose one as well I’ll be alone I’ll have nobody “Please, tell me”

“He’s been captured by Cordero,” he spits into the speaker, causing my body to freeze

“What?”