Gerald blocked the slap that was about to land on Charles. He hadn't expected things to escalate into a physical confrontation.
"Gerald, don't stop him," was all Charles said, his voice calm.
"Calm down, Ericka," Gerald urged.
"Let me go!" she snapped, yanking herself free from his grasp.
Her glare was fiery. Everyone could feel her rage.
"I can't believe it… all of you knew about the organization. And worse—you're part of the very group that caused Jasmin's death." Her voice trembled with disbelief.
William reached out, attempting to restrain her.
"You let my friend die!" she screamed, tears streaming down her face.
"Demons… That's what you all are. And you, Chesca—you didn't even tell me the truth. I trusted you. I needed to know if staying by your side was the right decision!"
Chesca clenched her fists, silent. Guilt was written across her face.
"I'm sorry… Ericka, I… I didn't mean to…" she murmured, her voice barely audible.
Vince sighed, running a hand through his hair before casting a look toward Thalia.
"I didn't think the one helping you would turn out to be so weak-hearted," he said flatly.
Then he turned to William. "Brother, can you keep your friend in check?"
That drew Ericka's attention—and her fury. She glared at Vince.
"What do you know?" she spat. "You stood there while my friend was murdered! You did nothing! You claim to be part of the organization that wants to take down Fuego—but you just watched her die!"
Gerald saw her smile bitterly through her tears. Her emotions were a storm—raw and powerful.
She needs to hear the truth… before she gets consumed by all of this.
Be strong, Ericka, he thought. We're all going through something… we all carry scars from Fuego.
His fists clenched.
"If only you'd acted sooner… Jasmin would still be alive! None of you understand what it's like to lose someone you love!" Ericka shouted.
"I'm done here. I'll find my own way to get justice for Jasmin! I'm not staying with people like you!"
Gerald understood her pain. Losing someone you care about—it breaks something inside you.
"Stop it, Ericka!" Thalia's voice rang out, sharp and trembling.
Her hands shook at her sides. Her gaze burned.
"Don't you dare blame everyone here! We're all victims of Chesca's father's greed! Every one of us has suffered at that man's hands!"
Her words hit with the weight of truth.
"Victim? You think you're a victim, Thalia?" Ericka laughed bitterly. "You don't know anything about me."
And then—a loud slap echoed through the room. Gerald flinched.
Ericka's hand flew to her stinging cheek.
"Thalia!" Chesca cried, trying to restrain her.
"I'm not about to lay bare what my family has been through. If your parents are still alive, then count yourself lucky," Thalia said, tears brimming in her eyes.
"But me? I've never seen my parents again. I never got to hold my youngest sibling again. So don't talk like you know everything. Understand why we're here. Try to see why we made the choices we did."
Gerald watched the weight of Thalia's pain settle over the room.
"What's your story, Thalia?" Ericka whispered. "I'm sorry I'm not like you… Sorry I didn't let anger swallow me whole."
"You're a traveler, aren't you?" Felix suddenly spoke up.
Ericka turned sharply. "Why do you care if I'm a traveler? Do you even believe in what I see? Do you think your sister sees visions too?"
Gerald noticed the teasing grin on Felix's face.
"If you're a traveler… do you actually pay attention to the people you meet during your visions? Or are you just chasing your grief?" Felix asked.
"You're already connected to this whole mess. But I want to know: are you doing this to understand… or just to avenge Jasmin?"
"Brother…" Thalia muttered.
"No, Thalia. Let me ask her," Felix continued, voice firm. "How much do you know about the Fuego family, Ericka? What did you see during your travels?"
Ericka hesitated under the weight of his stare.
"I know someone helped Jasmin escape," she said finally. "I saw him… digging something up. He was hiding something."
"Do you know who he was?" Felix asked again.
"They killed him. They massacred him," she said softly.
Then she looked at Thalia.
"Was your cousin the one who helped Jasmin?"
"Yes," Thalia answered. "Fernan. He used to be with the organization. He died trying to save Jasmin… and so that his two siblings could escape. He sacrificed everything. And his sister died, too."
Gerald saw fire in Thalia's eyes—pain wrapped in defiance.
Ericka looked shaken by the truth.
"I know you've been hiding things from my sister too," Felix added, turning to Ericka.
"Hiding?" she echoed, startled.
"You can't fool me. I can see more than you think. I've known you a long time, Missy," Felix said with a grin.
"You saw what happened to our parents, didn't you?" he asked, voice lowering.
Thalia turned slowly toward her childhood friend.
"Do you know…?" she started to ask.
"Thalia, you'll see what really happened. But let me ask you again: how can you say we don't understand?"
Ericka said nothing.
"You're not the only one who's suffered," Felix continued. "Some people in this room have lost more—but we're still here. We're still fighting."
"Brother, that's enough," Thalia said sternly, her eyes flashing.
Felix sighed and fell silent.
Ericka slumped into a chair, wordless.
William nudged Gerald, nodding for him to go to her.
He sat beside Ericka without a word.
Silence fell across the room—tension giving way to reflection. The storm had passed. But nothing would be the same after this.