Page 25 of Espíritu

Yadriel’s combat boots crunched on the gravel path alongside Julian’s scuffed Chucks as they followed Maritza down the path. Usually, Julian could feel the fluttering energy of his attention span like fireflies in his chest, but there, among the dead, it was oddly soothing. The familiarity of the cemetery—of the spirits, of the brujx magic thrumming faintly through the soil—made the tension in his shoulders start to ease.

But then the shadows crept back in his mind.

The dark, endless vision. The glowing water. The way the world had disappeared from under him. It weighed him down and slowed his stroll.

“I saw something at school today,” Julian said, interrupting whatever Yadriel and Maritza had been discussing.

They both turned to look at him, confused, before exchanging glances with each other.

“What do you mean?” Yadriel asked.

Julian hesitated, then blurted it out. “In the hallway. I think it was like … a vision of a cave or something? It smelled weird, and there was water and all these glowy lights,” he listed off in an anxious tumble of words. “Just for a second, but it was like the walls faded away, and there it was.”

Maritza’s brows shot up. “A cave? Are you sure?”

Julian rubbed his scar, trying to quell the unease. “Yeah, pretty sure. It was dark, all swirling shadows. I don’t know, it felt … wrong. Bad.”

Yadriel frowned, gaze dropping to Julian’s chest. “Do you think it has something to do with the dark spot?”

Julian shrugged, lips pressing together in frustration. “I don’t know what it means, but it’s starting to ache more,” he said, absently rubbing his scar again. “It just doesn’t feel right—I don’t feel right,” he clarified. “But maybe we could look it up? Is there like a brujx Google or something?”

Maritza shook her head. “Most brujx don’t write that kind of stuff down, Jules. Too risky if a non-brujx reads it,” she explained. “It’s all oral, passed along face-to-face.” Her arms crossed. “Which means we need to find someone who knows more than us.”

“Not Lita. Definitely not my dad,” Yadriel added quickly. “They’d shut this down or worse—” He cut himself off.

Julian wondered what would be worse, but it was clear Yadriel wouldn’t say more. “So we need someone who won’t totally freak out,” he said.

Maritza tapped her chin. “Exactly. Someone who’ll actually tell us what this could mean without grounding us or ratting us out.”

“We’ll figure out someone.” Yadriel squeezed Julian’s shoulder, steady. “You’re not alone in this.”

Julian leaned against his boyfriend. For the first time all day, the panicked buzz in his chest quieted. He managed a small, crooked smile. “Thanks.”

Maritza sighed, a sympathetic but exasperated look on her face. “I just wish we could do something to make you feel better.” She tilted her head.

Just like that, Julian’s mood brightened. “You know what would make me feel better?” he said. “Tacos!”

Yadriel laughed.

“I shouldn’t have asked,” Maritza grumbled.

“How about some Jack in the Box?” Julian flashed a grin, hoping to coax a smile from Maritza and Yadriel.

Yadriel rolled his eyes, but Julian saw the corner of his mouth twitch. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Goofy,” Maritza muttered.

Julian blinked. “What’s he got to do with it?”

“Jack in the Box tacos are the worst!” Maritza clarified, shaking with laughter.

“I know what good tacos are—I’m a taco concierge!” Julian argued back.

“You mean connoisseur,” Maritza deadpanned.

He nodded. “Yeah, that too!”

Maritza made a face. “Do you know they deep-fry those things? And they use American cheese! Plasticky, gross American cheese!”