I swallowed the lump in my throat and shook my head. “No. I’ve heard enough for now.”
He nodded. “Okay. Do you want to… I don’t know. What do you want to do?” He rubbed the back of his neck.
“I’ll be in my room.” I marched off before he could stop me.
He let me go without an argument. I retraced my steps back to the room they’d given me, blinking away the hot tears. The ache that was becoming fearfully familiar, spread in my chest. I needed Papi. I longed to run to him and let out all my frustrations. I wanted to yell at him for keeping me in the dark and I wanted to hear the truth from his mouth. I needed him to tell me what to do. To promise me it was going to be okay.
I made it to my room and threw myself down on the giant bed. My mind swam with questions and my emotions clashed together. Exhausted, I eventually closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.
6
I woke up to find a steaming hot plate of tamales waiting for me on a tray. After a full belly, I pulled out my phone and squared my shoulders back.
My reflection stared back at me from the black screen. I turned it on and went to my texts. The phone didn’t work—not to tell anyone what really happened to me. I’d tried that already. I could read all my messages, but my fingers wouldn’t move to make any reply. My eyes scanned the numerous texts from my friends.
Why did you leave without saying goodbye? Are you okay? When are you coming back?
I sighed. Never. And no, I was most certainly not okay. Tears prickled my eyes once more, but I blinked them away. I’d done enough crying. It was time to take some action.
My eyes landed on the door leading to the balcony. I’d discovered earlier that it was locked, but that gave me hope. If they locked it, maybe it meant I would be able to break free from my tío’s hold long enough to scale down it, which they obviously didn’t want me doing. All I needed to do was find a way to unlock it.
A knock snapped me out of my thoughts. I turned to the door and frowned as my body moved of its own accord. My hand stretched out and turned the handle.
Tía Teresa stood on the other side, her dark eyebrows pinched in worry. I braced myself for whatever was coming and motioned her in.
She glanced around at my belongings, staring at the photos I’d pinned up on the wall. It was the only way to keep my sanity. Pretend everything was normal. There were pictures of me with my friends, who were probably wondering if I was purposefully trying to forget them, and pictures of Papi and I. She paused in front of the only photo I’d brought of my parents and I together. I was just an infant in my mother’s arms.
“Your mother was a remarkable woman,” she finally spoke.
My eyebrow arched. “Oh?”
A sad smile spread on her face. “She was destined for great things.”
I scoffed. “So much for that working out, huh?”
She frowned. “Your mother was not perfect, Rosa, but she did do great things in her short time here. She was one of the best GRIMM agents. A hero until she left.”
“Why did she leave? Do you know?”
Her eyes searched mine. “She didn’t agree with the rules and protocols. She thought the organization was too extreme in their thinking. Too oppressive with the innocent extraordinaire.”
“Extraordinaire?”
“The magical beings. Not all of them are monsters.”
I blinked in surprise. Maybe I did have more in common with my mom than I’d thought. If she walked away from the GRIMMs without going crazy in the head, maybe I could do it too.
“The GRIMMs are… strict. They have to be. Without guidelines and rules, it wouldn’t work.”
“Aren’t you a GRIMM?”
She nodded. “Yes, but I never passed the final exam. I’m just a supporting role in the operations. I help your tío.”
I stared at her. Did she regret her decision? Did she feel forced into that life?
“It’s not like you think. I’ve accepted I’ll never be more, and what I do matters too.”
Not knowing what to say to that, I remained silent. My eyes fell on the floor, the tension growing awkward in the room.
“But I don’t think that will be your fate.” She smiled.
“No. It won’t.” I stared at her dead on.
She glanced at the photos once more. “I am sorry, Rosa. Sorry for everything you have lost. It never should have happened like this. Your abuelos should have done more. Your parents too.”
I bristled. “My papi did plenty for me. Kept me safe and away from all of you.”
She flinched. “That is not true.” Her face hardened. “Your tío is the one who protected you. He broke the council’s laws to do it and went against your abuelo’s knowledge. You have him to thank for keeping you out of sight. You should be more grateful.”
Heat spread across my face. Grateful? No chance in hell of that.
She let out a heavy sigh. “I did not come in here to fight with you, Rosa. I don’t want to be enemies. We are family. All you have left.”
I didn’t respond. Her words left me hollow. I turned away, refusing to look at her. I didn’t turn back until the sound of her retreating footsteps sounded outside my door.
That night my dreams were haunted once more. Visions of the closed casket and my mother’s portrait plagued me. No matter how much I tried to forget, Manny’s transforming face replayed again and again. I woke up in a sweat, clutching my covers tightly to my chest.
I blinked, trying to calm my racing heart. My body thrummed in flight mode while my mind slowly pieced together current events.
I was safe. Safe in my bed in my tío’s house. Chills crawled over
